Liverpool ‘willing to pay’ Man Utd and Arsenal target’s release clause, but bittersweet terms won’t please Klopp
Liverpool are prepared to activate a LaLiga star’s release clause to ensure they fend off Arsenal, Newcastle and Man Utd, though a condition in the proposed deal won’t please Jurgen Klopp, per a report.
One LaLiga star in particular is coveting more and more headlines with each passing week. Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga is catching the eye, with his four goals and one assist in February earning him LaLiga’s Player of the Month award.
The 20-year-old is already on the fringes of the Spanish national side. He did not receive the call for Luis de la Fuente’s squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Norway and Scotland this week, though it’s only a matter of time before the phone does ring.
Veiga operates primarily in an attacking midfield role and already has numerous admirers in England.
Indeed, Celta president, Carlos Mourino, recently revealed “Four of [the] top 10 Premier League clubs asked for info about Gabri Veiga.”
The quartet in question are understood to be Man Utd, Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool.
ESPN claimed the Reds had commissioned two separate reports into Veiga as they seek to gather more information about his profile both on and off the field before making their move.
But while those reports are being compiled, Diario AS claimed Newcastle could jump the gun and activate Veiga’s €40m (approx. £35m) release clause.
In their words, Newcastle are “willing to pay the clause” and will offer the player a salary of “more than €5m net per season.”
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Liverpool reading Gabri Veiga bid
Perhaps with that in mind, a fresh report out of Spain (via Sport Witness) claim Liverpool too are ‘willing to pay’ Veiga’s release fee.
From the player’s perspective, it’s noted Veiga is yet to make a decision on what to do when the inevitable offers are lodged this summer.
If Celta teammate and former Liverpool frontman Iago Aspas has his way, Veiga will opt to remain where he is for one more year.
The 35-year-old was quoted by AS as saying: “What I recommend to Gabri, who is very good and also very young, is that he stay[s] at Celta for at least one more season.
“Next season is Celta’s centenary and I would like Gabri Veiga to continue with us.
“Then you can choose to play wherever you want, because his trajectory is fantastic. He is followed by great clubs, I know, but Gabri is 20 years old and has time ahead of him.”
Double-edged deal can aid Liverpool cause
According to Sport Witness, that is a scenario that can be arranged in conjunction with Veiga signing for Liverpool.
Indeed, the report goes on to explain Celta are fully aware they are powerless to prevent clubs triggering the release clause. However, they’ll still angle for an agreement that sees Veiga loaned back to Celta for the 2023/24 campaign.
Agreeing to that demand could be what convinces Veiga to accept a move. However, it’d do little to aid Klopp’s fortunes in the here and now.
The Reds boss is poised to embark on a midfield overhaul this summer and Veiga’s attacking impetus from midfield could be a big boost to Liverpool’s fortunes next season.
But if accepting they’ll have to wait 12 months before seeing Veiga at Anfield is what swings a deal their way, it’s a bittersweet pill Klopp and Liverpool fans may have to swallow.
