Newcastle United & Aston Villa to ‘hijack’ West Ham transfer move - £8m man offered to clubs
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Newcastle United latest news: The Magpies have been linked with ‘hijacking’ a potential West Ham transfer this month.
Newcastle United and Aston Villa could reportedly ‘hijack’ West Ham’s interest in signing Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza this month - according to the Daily Mail.
The Hammers currently sit in the Premier League relegation zone following their 2-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. That loss left Nuno Espirito Santo’s side seven points adrift of safety and in desperate need of a spark to kickstart their season.
Having already added two strikers to their ranks this month, deals that could force former Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson out of the club, they have reportedly turned their attention towards Spain in a bid to strengthen their defensive options.
Mingueza is reportedly the man at the centre of their admiration. The 26-year-old has played 21 times in all competitions for Celta Vigo this season as they push for European qualification.
The former Barcelona academy player has spent three-and-a-half years at Celta Vigo following his move from the Camp Nou. However, despite being a regular this season, it is being reported that he could be available for just £8m this month.
Newcastle United’s reported interest in Oscar Mingueza
West Ham, though, could face competition for the Spaniard’s signature amid reported interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle United. Mingueza is capable of playing at right-back and at centre-back and would be a versatile option for either Eddie Howe or Unai Emery to add to their ranks as they look to compete in the Premier League, cup competitions and in Europe.
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Mingueza has just six months left on his current Celta Vigo deal and, if no extension is agreed, would be free to leave Estadio de Bailados as a free agent in the summer. Clubs based outside of Spain can also negotiate a pre-contract deal with Mingueza which would see them sign him on a free transfer once his contract at Celta Vigo expires.
Mingueza’s cut-price fee of £8m, therefore, could be a last-ditch attempt by his club to receive any sort of transfer fee for him before the summer window. Both Newcastle and Villa have had to battle PSR restrictions in recent seasons and free transfers offer them a chance to strengthen their squads without the outlay of a transfer fee.
This isn’t the first time Mingueza has been linked with a possible move to St James’ Park, however, with the Spaniard’s name cropping up in reports back in November. Over a month on from those initial reports and there has been no movement on a potential extension for the defender.
However, that uncertainty over his future is not affecting Mingueza’s performances on the pitch, nor it is impacting his mentality off it either: “I’m very happy here, very content,” Mingueza said recently.
“I know that if I stay here, I wouldn’t earn the same as in other places, but personally I’m also looking for a bit of comfort.”
“I don’t know the percentage [chance of a new deal], but what I do know is that we’re talking. I’m very comfortable here, I want to stay here, but we’ll see what happen.”