Turkish giants Trabzonspor are reportedly attempting an eleventh-hour move to sign Spanish defender Oscar Mingueza from Barcelona this summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Oscar Mingueza is the subject of interest from Trabzonspor over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Barcelona defender has also reached an agreement to join Celta Vigo, but the Turkish giants are attempting a late hijack.
Oscar Mingueza has been a handy backup option in the Barcelona first-team squad in the last two seasons. The Spanish international made his first-team debut in the 2020/21 campaign amid the financial issues at Camp Nou. And while he has not managed to nail down his spot as a regular, Ronald Koeman and Xavi Hernandez have relied on him during critical situations.
The 23-year-old has turned out 66 times for Barcelona thus far while chipping in with two goals and five assists. But the player’s time at Camp Nou will likely end this summer after Barcelona omitted him from the pre-season tour to the USA. And while he seemed to be closing in on joining Celta Vigo, Trabzonspor could swoop in at the eleventh hour.
The Turkish champions want to bolster their defensive unit in the ongoing transfer window. Abdullah Avci has five centre-backs at his disposal, but he is keen on securing the services of Oscar Mingueza, whose versatility makes him an appealing prospect for Trabzonspor.
A closer look at the first-team squad suggests why Trabzonspor might want to sign Mingueza, as Vitor Hugo is on the wrong side of 30. At the same time, two of the centre-backs at Avci’s disposal are too young to feature prominently. The Barcelona defender, surplus to requirements at Camp Nou, has thus emerged as a viable target.
But the Turkish giants have to move quickly to secure the services of the 23-year-old, as Celta Vigo and Barcelona have reportedly agreed to a summer deal for him. However, Mingueza might want to hear Trabzonspor’s offer as they are prepared to double his wages.
Trabzonspor will now need to submit a bid to Barcelona quickly, considering the Catalan giants have already agreed to a deal with Celta Vigo. It will be interesting to see if the Turkish club’s last-ditch effort to sign Mingueza succeeds.
