Arsenal transfer news Mikel Arteta has turned to Oscar Mingueza as the Celta Vigo defender nears the end of his contract. The 27-year-old could leave for free at the end of the month, which puts Arsenal in position to chase a bargain rather than pay a fee.
Arteta is looking for a low-cost addition and a new right-back appears to be the likeliest area of improvement. Arsenal also want to keep their winning momentum next term after defending their crown becomes the next job.
Arteta's right-back search
Ben White's future has been clouded by interest from other Premier League clubs, and that has sharpened the need for cover on the right side. Earlier this summer, Tino Livramento had been linked with Arsenal before he was forced to pull out of the World Cup squad through injury, leaving the club to keep checking the same position.
That is where Mingueza fits. He has been the strongest of Arsenal's options in this lane, and the interest is being driven by Arteta. A free transfer would allow Arsenal to move without the delay and cost that usually come with a market-value signing, even though Transfermarkt has him listed at £15million.
Oscar Mingueza and Arsenal
Mingueza is poised to leave Celta Vigo after four years at the club. He came through La Masia at Barcelona before leaving at the age of 22, and he is said to be keen to make the move to England after spending his entire career in his native land.
The competition is real. Aston Villa, Juventus and Newcastle are all interested, so Arsenal are not alone in seeing the appeal of a player who can arrive at the end of his contract. That makes the timing important: once the month runs out, the free-transfer route closes with it.
Arsenal and the end of the month
Arteta has already shown how much he values players who can change matches after coming on. After Arsenal beat Sporting Lisbon 1-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, he said, "It's been the story of the season, how important the finishers have been for us, to achieve what we want," and added, "And today, all of them - Gabi [Martinelli] came on and made a huge impact; Kai [Havertz] the same; Max [Dowman] the same."
That thinking lines up with a move for Mingueza: the player, the price and the position all fit the same brief. Arsenal want a cheap or free option at right-back, and the deal stays live only while Celta Vigo's contract clock keeps ticking toward the end of the month.
