Arsenal are among a list of clubs that includes Aston Villa and Fulham who are showing interest in Celta Vigo defender Óscar Mingueza.
Mingueza’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season and the 26-year-old has signed with the English agency Unique Sports Group.
Capable of playing right-back or in the centre of defence, Mingueza would give Arsenal a similar profile of player to Ben White, who faces an uncertain future at the Emirates.
Telegraph Sport has reported Arsenal’s interest in Newcastle United right-back Tino Livramento, who has also been linked with a move to Manchester City.
Mingueza, who is poised to become a free agent, has emerged as an alternative, with Arsenal seemingly weighing up a number of potential defensive targets.
Villa have followed Mingueza for some time and are said to remain interested in him as they prepare for a busy summer. The club have wanted competition for right-back Matt Cash for some time and Mingueza’s versatility would be valuable to head coach Unai Emery.
The fact Mingueza is also capable of filling in at left-back could be attractive to Arsenal and Villa, who currently have two high-earning left-backs on the books in Lucas Digne and Ian Maatsen.
Fulham could probably offer Mingeuza the biggest guarantee of joining as a regular starter although, unlike Arsenal and Villa, the London club are not on course to qualify for Europe next season.
Unique has a number of Fulham players, including Harry Wilson, on its books but the agency have also brokered a number of deals involving Arsenal and Villa over the years. Villa are one of the clubs interested in Wilson, who is also out of contract at the end of the season.
Other than playing for Barcelona and Celta Vigo, Mingueza has made four international appearances for Spain, as well as playing twice for Catalonia.
Mingueza is also said to have interest from overseas, with Juventus one of the clubs also credited with following him.