Sunderland Eye Move for £15.5m-rated Free Agent Alongside Serie A Duo

Sunderland have reportedly registered interest in signing free agent Oscar Mingueza following the Spaniard's exit from La Liga side Celta Vigo this summer, but face competition for his signature.

According to journalist Matte Moretto on X, Sunderland are eyeing a move for Mingueza alongside Serie A duo Atalanta and Como, in the wake of news that the ex-Barcelona star has ended his four-year association with Celta Vigo upon the expiry of his contract.

Last season, Mingueza featured 47 times in all competitions for Celta Vigo, scoring once and assisting six goals in the process to help his side qualify for next season's Europa League by finishing sixth in the Spanish top flight.

As a result of his impressive campaign and his six consecutive seasons among Spain's footballing elite, it is clear to see why the Black Cats transfer team have shown interest in the 27-year-old, who was a graduate of the famous La Masia academy at Barcelona.

One of the most attractive attributes to Mingueza is his versatility, with the Spaniard comfortable in several key positions in defence and midfield, but his trademark position is at full-back.

Last season, according to Transfermarkt, Mingueza played 12 of his 34 La Liga games at right-back and 11 of those at left-back, with a handful of appearances also coming further forward as a wide midfielder.

In terms of goal contributions, Mingueza notched one goal and three assists from right-back and a further three assists on the opposite side of defence, showcasing his ample attacking qualities.

When analysing his statistics from last season, the Spaniard was in outstanding form in several key areas, both in an attacking sense and at the back.

On the front foot, Mingueza's technical ability shone, seeing him create 30 chances for his Celta Vigo teammates, make over 1,000 successful passes, and rank in the top 8% for expected assists for similar players in his position.

Additionally, Mingueza's tenacity and aggression in defence will also be an attraction for Sunderland, given that he made 94 defensive contributions in La Liga last season and has the physical profile to contend with the rigours of Premier League football.

From a Sunderland perspective, it would be both an incredibly sensible and exciting transfer to make, and one that would benefit Regis Le Bris' squad depth as a whole.

Mingueza's arrival would offer cover and competition in both full-back roles, which is particularly important given the exit of left-back Dennis Cirkin this summer, and would also offer Le Bris the tactical flexibility to shift Sunderland into a three-back formation if needed at some point next season.

Also, the Spaniard's services would enable Nordi Mukiele to continue at centre-back rather than right-back, where he was emphatically effective in the final-day victory over Chelsea, by bolstering the Black Cats' right-back ranks.

With RB Leipzig loanee Lutsharel Geertruida's Sunderland future still uncertain, the Spaniard, who made 66 senior appearances for Barca, would be a direct replacement for the Dutchman's qualities and versatility.

His availability as a free agent is especially attractive with no transfer fee being involved for Mingueza, who has a current transfer market value reported to be around the £16m mark.

Despite the interest from Como and Atalanta, given Mingueza's qualities and potential benefits to the current Sunderland squad heading into their upcoming Premier League and Europa League campaigns, the Black Cats would be remiss not to secure his signature in the summer transfer window.