Officials sent to watch Oscar Mingueza as Aston Villa maintain transfer pursuit
Aston Villa are keeping tabs on former Barcelona star Oscar Mingueza.
Aston Villa are in the the thick of a Premier League title race and looking to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.
They are also going strong in the Europa League and Villa beat Tottenham 2-1 on their own patch in a feisty affair at the weekend to progress to round four of the FA Cup.
However, if they are to compete on multiple fronts this season, they need a squad capable of coping with the demands when the games come thick and fast.
So far in January, Villa have signed 17-year-old Metz striker Brian Madjo and 19-year-old Gremio winger Alysson. But in regards to players who can slot right into Emery’s starting XI, that is another matter.
There is, however, still more than enough time to change that and now new reports suggest Mingueza is once more on their radar.
Aston Villa face Juventus competition
While Andres Garcia is a backup option for first-choice right-back Matty Cash – who has dropped a hint on his long-term future at Aston Villa – it seems the Villans want to strengthen in that area of the pitch.
According to Sky Sports, Italian giants Juventus are interested in Manchester United full-back Noussair Mazraoui and Celta Vigo’s Mingueza.
Juve sporting director Marco Ottolini was reportedly in Spain last weekend to watch the latter play against Sevilla, with the 26-year-old being utilised at left-back for that clash.
The report adds with the former Barcelona player out of contract in June, Juventus will try and snap him up this month, as they anticipate competition from Villa this summer.
It remains to be seen if the four-time Spain international will stay at Celta, sign for Juve, or try his luck with Villa later in 2026.
Unai Emery ‘alert’ over Aston Villa’s January window
Villa are this season’s unlikely title challengers, with Emery’s side currently sitting six points behind leaders Arsenal and level with second-placed Manchester City.
But to maintain their push, they need extra quality, something they identified with Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher – although he looks set to join Tottenham instead.
Villa – who are making a mockery of the expected goals metric – are in the process of trying to lure former striker Tammy Abraham back to Villa Park and Emery himself has said that they need to be on top of things in the market this month.
He said at the end of December, “We are alert. The club is working and if we can sign someone to help us and improve on something we need, we will do it.
“With the players we have, it is enough to compete because we are showing it the first four months. But for the second half of the season, with the same players, of course we can improve.”
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