Newcastle United are nothing if not ingenious.
Eddie Howe has been under pressure this season, and his side have not been good enough, but two bounce-back victories in the Premier League have lifted the Magpies out of the bottom half, now just five points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
Technical director Ross Wilson is now ensconced in his headquarters at St. James’ Park, and Newcastle are unlikely to make any splurges throughout the month, but there is undoubtedly a desire to make a nifty buy or two if the right opportunity presents itself.
A number of positions have been marked, but full-back depth has hamstrung Howe at times this season, so expect some movement there.
Newcastle eye new full-back
Lewis Miley has been something of a revelation this season, with the Geordie prospect filling in at right-back on several occasions, doing a job for injured Newcastle, and receiving the nod from Alan Shearer after a remarkable display against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Tino Livramento came off the bench against Palace but has been unconvincing fitness-wise all year. With Kieran Trippier, 35, out of contract at the end of the campaign, it makes sense to turn to a new star.
And according to Caught Offside, Newcastle and Aston Villa are set to battle it out this month for the signature of Celta Vigo star Oscar Mingueza, with the versatile defender out of contract at the end of the season.
It would take a modest fee of around €10m (around £8m) to convince the La Liga side to sell, but it is worth emphasizing that they are keen to keep the 26-year-old, who has been engaged in talks over a renewal at the Estadio de Balaidos this season.
Why Newcastle should sign Oscar Mingueza
Mingueza cut his teeth at Barcelona and played a first-team role before signing for Celta Vigo in 2022, where he has since made 121 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists.
The Spain international’s natural aptitude as a defender could see him replace Miley as Livramento’s understudy, and with Howe’s midfield already full and targeting additions this year, that could be bad news for the young Toon.
That doesn’t mean he will be sidelined, but his playing time could be limited at a time when opportunities have started to multiply. But, as we saw this season, Newcastle needed more in different positions, and Mingueza could help progress this up-and-down system.
Hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as an “underrated” player whose versatility allows him to cover “the whole backline” effectively, Mingueza would certainly fit the mold Howe likes, with Miley and Livramento showing impressive tactical dynamism on Tyneside.
|
Oscar Mingueza – Career Statistics by Position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Applications |
Goals + Passes |
|
Central defender |
86 |
2 + 7 |
|
Right rear |
74 |
3 + 6 |
|
Right midfielder |
33 |
2 + 5 |
|
Left rear |
19 |
1 + 1 |
|
Left midfielder |
8 |
1 + 2 |
|
Central midfielder |
1 |
0 + 0 |
|
Dates via Transfermarkt |
||
There is something Trippier-esque about this wide defender that highlights his ability to promote transition play, thus aligning with Howe’s identity as a tactician.
According to FBref, the La Masia graduate ranks in the top 4% of peers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, top 1% for progressive passes and top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90, highlighting the dimensions he would add to Howe’s on-ball setup.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance from the starting point to the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent’s goal or any completed pass within the penalty area.
Spanish journalist Jacobo Buceta remarked in November that Mingueza was “back [sic] his best version”, with the Wideman’s “brutal” creativity really coming to the fore. Fellow journalist Vicent Burguete described him as a “hell of a player” for his “elegant and complete” skills. It’s clear to see why he’s coveted, even as Miley progresses.
If Newcastle wish to move to the next level and start performing like a team capable of competing against anyone across Europe, that is the decision Howe and Wilson must make, layering the squad cleverly ahead of bigger plans for the summer.
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