Arteta pushing for Arsenal to sign Spanish player

According to reports in Spain, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is determined to bring in Celta Vigo's Oscar Mingueza, who is currently a free agent. Despite adding Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie to their defensive lineup last summer, the Premier League champions are looking to further strengthen their backline with the potential departure of Ben White. With White being pushed to the sidelines due to the prominence of Jurrien Timber, Arsenal is now on the search for a new center-back to join Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba in their untouchable squad.

As the World Cup approaches, crunch time is upon us for Thomas Tuchel and his team. Don't miss out on any updates from the England camp, previews of the biggest games, and overnight news by signing up for our daily World Cup newsletter here. One potential target for Arsenal is Newcastle's Tino Livramento, who was unfortunately forced to pull out of England's World Cup squad due to injury.

However, it is understood that the Gunners may have to shell out over £60 million to secure Livramento's services. That's why they have also been exploring other options in the market, with Spanish newspaper AS reporting that they have their eyes on Mingueza. The 27-year-old defender, whose contract with Celta is set to expire this month, is available on a free transfer this summer.

And Arsenal, along with Newcastle, are leading the pack in the race to sign him. It's no secret that Mingueza is aiming for a move to the Premier League, with Juventus also keeping a close eye on his situation. However, Arteta's strong interest in the player, coupled with the club's ability to offer Champions League football, may give Arsenal the edge in securing his signature.

Mingueza is known for his versatility, as he can play in various positions across the back four. His profile is similar to that of White, making him a potential replacement for the Englishman. Celta's head coach Claudio Giraldez had nothing but praise for the defender, saying, "He's a fantastic player with a tremendous personality.

I hope he can stay, but we know it will be difficult to keep him. I like him a lot and I hope he can have a great career because he still has a lot of room for improvement." The Spanish defender has already been capped four times by his national team and was a part of the squad that reached the Nations League final last year. He also played a crucial role in Spain's silver medal win at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.

However, Mingueza's journey to success hasn't been without its fair share of challenges. As a teenager, he was highly rated at Barcelona, but a strained relationship with manager Xavi led to his departure from the club. In a 2024 interview, he admitted, "When Xavi arrived, we didn't click well.

He must not have liked me or something. I didn't have the best mentality, and that's why I left Barca, to try to regain my motivation and enjoy myself." It remains to be seen if Arsenal will make a move for Mingueza, as they have yet to make contact with his camp. But with Celta already bringing in a new right-back in the form of Alvaro Nunez, it seems likely that the defender will be on the move this summer.

As for Arsenal, they will continue to monitor their options and make a decision that will strengthen their defensive lineup for the upcoming season.