Manchester City have reportedly entered the race for Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga after pulling out of Declan Rice deal.
The Sky Blues have had an £80million plus £10million in add-ons offer for Rice rejected by West Ham, who internally wanted £120million but would accept £100million plus a player for their club captain. On Tuesday, Arsenal—after seeing two bids rejected—made a third bid for Rice worth £100million up front plus £5million in add-ons, which the Hammers have accepted.
Having decided to withdraw from Rice’s deal, Manchester City have shifted their focus towards other midfield options. According to reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City are considering a move for Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga, who is also courted by Chelsea and Liverpool.
Veiga, 21, had a stellar season in La Liga, establishing himself as a breakout star. The 21-year-old creative midfielder impressed with 11 goals and four assists in 36 league games for Celta Vigo. His notable performance came in the last game of the season, where the Spaniard scored twice in a 2-1 win over Barcelona to secure safety for Carlos Carvalhal’s Celta.
Gabri Veiga to Manchester City—Good option for Pep Guardiola?
Man City have completed the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. But even with the Croatian international on board, the Cityzens are determined to continue reinforcing the midfield that has been weakened by the departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona on a free transfer.
Pep Guardiola knows that City will need to build a squad with quality depth in every department to negotiate a season where his team will be in a unique position of competing for seven trophies. With that in mind, he wants to add another central midfielder and had Declan Rice as a top target. However, with Arsenal swooping in for Rice, the Spanish tactician is seemingly scouring the market for the England international’s potential alternatives.
Gabri Veiga is understood to be one of Rice’s alternatives City are interested in signing. Veiga’s remarkable rise has caught the attention of top clubs, including Treble-winners Man City. The youngster has a £35 million release clause in his contract, and a departure from Celta is expected this summer.
The Spanish under-21 international, who plays predominantly as a No.8 or No.10, posted 11 goals and four assists in his breakout season in La Liga. A technically gifted and tactically sound player with clever movement and the ability to score goals from midfield, Veiga is closer to Gundogan’s profile and would have no issues adapting to City’s possession-based style of football.
Guardiola is widely renowned for his reputation for developing young players and transforming them into world-class talents. That being said, the signing of Veiga could be another opportunity for the City boss to work his magic on a prodigious talent beaming with potential and already showing flashes of top-class attributes.
It’s a no-brainer for the 2022-23 Treble-winners to pay Veiga’s £35 million release clause and get him on board this summer as the 21-year-old could become a great long-term asset at the Etihad Stadium.
