Man City have decided to change focus and target Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga after pulling out of the race to sign Declan Rice.
City had earlier submitted a transfer offer to West Ham for Declan Rice. This offer was reported to be around £80 million plus add-ons.
Arsenal then offered £100 million to West Ham and City are now not willing to match that transfer fee. Hence, they have decided to explore other options. Gabri Veiga is said to be high on the list of transfer targets.
Veiga’s performances for Spanish side Celta Vigo have attracted the attention of many clubs around Europe. Liverpool and Chelsea are rumoured to have a strong interest in the player as well.
Veiga is a product of Celta’s youth academy and has gone on to play over 50 games for the club. He scored 11 goals and provided 4 assists in last season’s La Liga which shows he could even offer a threat in attack.
Liverpool have reportedly also offered the Spaniard a contract of around £80,000 a week, which looks like the sum around which the player’s camp would agree to a move.
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The Spaniard has a €40 million release clause in his contract. This would be half the price of what City were offering for Declan Rice. City have a desire to bolster their world-class squad even further and this pursuit showcases it.
City have already signed Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea, to replace club captain Ilkay Gundogan, who has joined Barcelona.
Kalvin Phillips joined last summer but has not turned any eyeballs and has been rather ordinary in the sky-blue shirt. Pep is now possibly looking to strengthen the position by bringing in Veiga as an understudy to Rodri, his fellow countryman.
Man City may be the only club in the world that can afford to strengthen up even their reserve players. They have been known to bring in the best young talents to the club from around the world and really squeeze out the potential in them.
Veiga is only 21 years old and with his high potential, Pep could turn him into a superstar, given his track record with this kind of player. It remains to be seen where he lands but it is most likely to be the Premier League.
