Chelsea have reportedly identified Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga as a potential replacement for Mason Mount.
Mason Mount, 24, who was due to enter the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge had been earmarked as a top target by Erik ten Hag as he tries to strengthen his midfield, but Manchester United looked to have pulled the plug after a third bid of £55 million was rejected by the Blues. However, they re-entered talks and were able to agree on a fee of £60million—£55million guaranteed fee plus £5million in add-ons.
With Mount closing in on a move to Man United, the west London club have started internal discussions about replacing him. According to The Evening Standard, Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga has emerged as a top target for Chelsea to replace Mount as well as bolster their midfield unit.
Veiga, 21, has become a hot property on the back of his breakthrough season with Celta Vigo. The Spanish under-21 international was arguably Celta Vigo’s standout performer this past season, scoring 11 goals and supplying four assists in 36 league appearances. And his contribution—most notable on the final day of the season in a 2-1 win over Barcelona—helped Carlos Carvalhal’s side avoid relegation from La Liga.
With Veiga having a release clause of £34.6m, there is a scramble for his signature with Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino keen to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Gabri Veiga to Chelsea—Ideal candidate to replace Mason Mount?
New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is facing an uphill battle to turn the club’s fortunes around after inheriting a bloated squad from Frank Lampard.
Following a disappointing 2022/23 season which saw the Pensioners struggle to perform under three different managers and finish 12th, Pochettino knows he must quickly live up to the lofty expectations of the owners and fans alike or suffer the same fate as that of his predecessors Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
With Mateo Kovacic having joined Man City for £25m, Ruben Loftus-Cheek completing his medical at AC Milan ahead of a £18.5m move, N’Golo Kante signing for Al Ittihad for free and Mason Mount on the brink of joining Man United in a £55m deal, Chelsea are light on numbers in midfield and Pochettino will now focus on strengthening it.
While Brighton’s Moises Caicedo remains their No.1 target, the success of their exodus of unwanted players means Pochettino is also likely open to signing a more creative-minded midfielder. Gabri Veiga, in that regard, fits the bill perfectly at Chelsea. The youngster shone with Celta Vigo this past season and has quickly become among the most in-demand players in La Liga, with Man City also keeping tabs on him.
The Spaniard, who can operate as a No.8 or No.10, caught the eye with his composure on the ball, vision and dynamism at Celta Vigo—not a mention the brilliant goal-scoring ability from the middle of the park. He is young, fresh and energetic and may well bring a degree of unpredictability, as well as excitement, to west London.
With Chelsea also having a concrete interest in signing Caicedo from Brighton, Pochettino could well create a dream central-midfield partnership that can help bring enormous success back to Stamford Bridge. While Veiga could take Mount’s place in the squad and thrive in attacking roles, Caicedo will more likely be viewed as a replacement for Kante.
With Treble-winners Man City also in the mix, Chelsea must quickly trigger Veiga’s £34.6m release clause and bring him to west London.