Money isn’t everything. Unfortunately for West Ham United, even the prospect of a Premier League pay hike might not be enough to convince a Spain international to make the move to East London.
Versatility is clearly a trait Nuno Espirito Santo admires.
In his first two months in the dugout, Nuno has trialled Ollie Scarles at right-back, Aaron Wan-Bissaka at left-back, and Tomas Soucek up top. Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo were swapped over, too. A right-footer on the left of the central defensive duo, and a left-footer on the right.
Amid reports from Italy claiming that West Ham have submitted a £15.8 million bid for Portugal Under-21 colossus Tiago Gabriel, it should be noted that the rising Serie A star would tick Nuno’s adaptability box, too.
The West Ham United head coach would be hard pressed finding a defender more tactically and positionally flexible than Oscar Mingueza, though.
Unfortunately, despite the prospect of a substantial increase in his personal fortune, Mingueza does not appear as keen on the Hammers as the Hammers are on him.
Photo By Ivan Terron/Europa Press via Getty Images
Oscar Mingueza plans to stay at Celta Vigo despite new West Ham United links
Hammers News revealed over the summer, shortly before a deal was struck for El Hadji Malick Diouf, that West Ham had held talks with Oscar Mingueza too.
This was not the first time the Barcelona academy graduate had found himself in those claret and blue crosshairs. He was linked back in 2023, as well.
At the time, Celta Vigo’s La Masia-educated utility man described West Ham as a ‘great team’, albeit while insisting that he was in no rush to leave Galicia.
Which position do West Ham need to strengthen the most?
Two years later, Mingueza issues a very similar response when the prospect of a move away from Spain was brought up again. Clearly, a suitcase full of cash will do little to turn his head.
“I’m very happy here, very content,” the 26-year-old defender said in a press conference, via Estadio Deportivo. “I know that if I stay here, I wouldn’t earn the same as in other places. But, personally, I’m also looking for a bit of comfort
“I don’t know the percentage [of me signing a new deal], but what I do know is that we’re talking. I’m very comfortable here. I want to stay here.
“But we’ll see what happens. Right now, we have to focus on football, on Thursday’s match [away to Ludogorets in the Europa League].”
Minguez was a target for Kyle Macaulay and Graham Potter
According to Estadio Deportivo, Newcastle and long-time admirers Aston Villa are interested in Mingueza ahead of the January transfer window. Serie A trio Atalanta, Milan and Como have entered the fray too, alongside some unnamed Saudi Arabian outfits.
Interestingly, Hammers News were told in July that Kyle Macaulay had approved a move for Oscar Mingueza. The former head of recruitment, and Graham Potter’s long-time right-hand man, has since departed the London Stadium, though West Ham’s interest in the four-cap Spain international seem to persist.
“We are always optimistic. We are in talks [over a new contract], we hope to be able to get closer to an agreement,” says sporting director Marco Garces.
“As I said, we remain optimistic [of keeping Mingueza].”
This season alone, the two-footed Mingueza has played on the right and the left flank, both in defensive and more attack-minded roles.
Whether he would be a starter at West Ham, or instead a solid, useful squad player, is anyone’s guess.
Nuno Espirito Santo is determined to get the best of El Hadji Malick Diouf
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf appear firmly established as Nuno’s first-choice full-back pairing right now, despite some valuable contributions from the similarly two-footed Kyle Walker-Peters.
Nuno calls Diouf a ‘diamond’. And, at the age of just 20, the Senegal international is exactly the kind of up-and-coming, high-potential signing West Ham appear determined to make their trademark.
“First of all, he is a beautiful boy. He is someone really special. He’s so sensitive,” Nuno said a few weeks ago. “I think this has to do with [his journey], the way he arrived here.
“I think he is living a dream. He is playing in the Premier League and he enjoys it so much.
“[Diouf has] a lot of things to improve, a lot of talent. Physically, [he is] something really special. But it’s like a diamond that you have to polish.
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