Aston Villa have sort of a 1a and 1b situation when it comes to their biggest transfer priority in the January 2025 transfer window. On the one hand, they have been chasing Dortmund winger Donyell Malen the most of any target in order to bolster their attack, but they have also been in need of a new right back for quite some time.
Malen isn’t the only right winger on their radar either, as Aston Villa could also make a plunge for AC Milan standout Samuel Chukwueze, an overqualified backup who previously shone under Unai Emery at Villarreal.
At right back, the field is more wide open, but Emery and Monchi continue to be linked to prominent LaLiga targets, including Rayo Vallecano’s Euro 2024 standout Andrei Ratiu, another Villarreal player in Juan Foyth, and Barcelona academy product Oscar Mingueza.
According to a report from Relevo insider Matteo Moretto, Aston Villa do indeed want to activate the 20 million euro release clause in Mingueza’s contract with LaLiga club Celta Vigo, and now the ball is in Mingueza’s court to make a decision on his future.
Moretto is the most plugged in national insider when it comes to Spanish transfers, so if he says that Aston Villa are seriously contemplating this signing, then there is bound to be fire around this smoke.
Mingueza is being purported as a right back solution, but, interestingly enough, the 2024/25 breakout star has made more of a name for himself in Vigo as an attacking player, even starting games on the left side of the midfielder.
More of a wide player than a fullback, Mingueza has two goals and five assists this season as one of the best wide creators in the country. If Aston Villa want him to directly replace Matty Cash, they could be disappointed by Mingueza’s defending, but if they want the former Barcelona man as a more attacking option, he could be decent value at 20 million euros.
We’ll see how much more Aston Villa want Mingueza than, say, Ratiu or Foyth, but this transfer situation has suddenly become a very interesting one to watch in the coming days.
