Fabrizio Romano: 'Deal on' for 26y/o defender offered to Newcastle United
The former Barcelona defender was reportedly offered to Newcastle United - but he won’t be moving to Tyneside.
Newcastle United were reportedly offered the chance to sign Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza on a cut-price deal this month.
The Magpies are exploring their options, both internally and externally, after being hit by several defensive injuries in the past month.
Tino Livramento became the latest casualty when he picked up a hamstring injury in Saturday’s FA Cup third round penalty shootout win over AFC Bournemouth. The full-back is expected to be out between six to eight weeks.
United are also awaiting news on how long they will be without Fabian Schar for, after he was stretchered off with ankle ligament damage in last Wednesday’s 4-3 victory against Leeds United.
Eddie Howe hopes to have Dan Burn back “pretty soon” but the 33-year-old, by his own admission, is still a “couple of weeks” away, while Emil Krafth or Jamaal Lascelles have no definitive return date.
Krafth has been sidelined since November - which is also the last time Lascelles was involved in a matchday squad - due to a knee issue. It has left Newcastle with just four senior defenders in Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Lewis Hall.
Oscar Mingueza ‘offered’ to Newcastle United - but he’s set to join Juventus
Reports last week suggested Mingueza, who is predominantly a right-back although can play at centre-back, had been offered to Newcastle, Aston Villla and West Ham United for £8m. The 26-year-old is out of contract in the summer, making it Celta Vigo’s last chance to cash in on the former Barcelona academy graduate.
But with seemingly little interest from the Magpies, Mingueza has entered talks with Italian giants Juventus and according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, a deal is on.
On Monday, Romano wrote on X: “EXCL: Juventus are among clubs keen on signing Oscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo. Juve among 5 clubs interested in free summer deal, eventually open to anticipate deal in January. Celta don’t want to sell Mingueza now as 50% goes to Barca.”
Romano then revisited his post on Wednesday and wrote: “Oscar Mingueza and Juventus, deal on — as exclusively revealed.”
Newcastle United stance on January transfer incomings
Despite the Magpies’ need for defensive reinforcements, Howe has made it clear that the club won’t be pressurised into a short-term approach.
Speaking on Monday, Howe said: “I think regarding transfers, everyone's fully supportive. I think the problem for us is PSR, as we've said many, many times. I don't think there's any issue of anyone saying ‘we can't do this or we can't do that’. It's what we can do and what we can't do.
“And I think the key thing for us to consider is business now, be it business in the summer, value for money now, value for money in the summer, and signing the right player. Because if you sign the wrong player, that again, following on from my previous answer, you're carrying that then for a three, four, five-year contract. Are the right players available in January?
“I think there's a lot to discuss and a lot to consider for our short-term need against the long-term decision for the football club.”