Aston Villa have 'clear alternative' if transfer target delivers AC Milan snub
Aston Villa have a “clear alternative” if Celta Vigo defender Óscar Mingueza snubs a move to the Premier League club this January.
Unai Emery and his recruitment team – headed by Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, more commonly known as Monchi – have targeted the 25-year-old right-back who has a €20m (£16.8m) release clause in his contract. Villa’s president of football operations travelled to Spain to watch the player in action on Friday and is reported to have sought to ramp up negotiations to sign him.
Spanish outlet Diario de Almeria, meanwhile, claim that Monchi has identified another option in the event that Mingueza decides to reject Villa.
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According to Spanish journalist Ángel Garcia, via Sport Witness, Mingueza is more tempted by interest from AC Milan right now.
He also states Celta Vigo would prefer to sell to RB Leipzig because they’ve agreed to loan Mingueza back for the rest of the season, although another Spanish outlet, AS, has stated Leipzig have “walked away.”
However, it is claimed that should Aston Villa be rejected, it’s explained Monchi has Almeria’s Marc Pubill as his alternative. The 21-year-old Spaniard has a €40m clause in his contract and has progressed this season after a failed move to Atalanta.
Sport Witness says Villa may not have to go as high as that €40m (£33.5m) if they enter negotiations with Almeria.
