Newcastle United

Newcastle United

Premier League • England

Eddie Howe set to flex transfer muscles as Newcastle now ‘best placed club’ to sign LaLiga sensation

Gabri Veiga Celta Viga 2023 TEAMtalk1

A report in Spain claims Newcastle United are closing in on the signature of Celta de Vigo star Gabri Veiga despite interest from Liverpool.

The 21-year-old has been turning heads with his displays in LaLiga this season. In his first full campaign for the club, the midfielder has started 27 times from 35 top-flight appearances, scoring nine goals. Whether or not it is enough to keep Celta in the Spanish top-flight only time will tell.

They sit just one point above the relegation zone and entertain champions Barcelona in their final league game.

The Spain Under-21 star cut his teeth in the club’s youth team and with Celta B, where he enjoyed 64 outings, scoring 10 goals.

He made his senior debut in September 2020, going on to enjoy six appearances in 2020-2021.

Mixing his time with the reserves, he was seen 10 times in 2021-22 before making his breakthrough this term.

And there has been no stopping the starlet over the past ten months.

Scouts from many top clubs have been on the case. Back in April, it was reported that Arsenal were leading the race to sign him this summer.

AS claimed that the Gunners would seal the deal with a £35m offer during the off-season.

READ MORE: Newcastle pushing for £50m Man Utd raid, as Fabrizio Romano reveals what shock transfer hinges on

Liverpool then entered the picture, with Jurgen Klopp said to be a big admirer of the young Spaniard.

Most things pointed to the Anfield giants securing the transfer but that has all changed, with the Magpies now on pole.

Newcastle winning Veiga battle amid price confusion

Newcastle comfortably avoided relegation in 2021-2022 following the Saudi-backed takeover and arrival of Eddie Howe.

The task this season was to consolidate but they exceeded expectations to finish fourth.

Therefore there will be Champions League football on Tyneside later his year.

That is a plus point when it comes to recruitment, with the club already excelling in that department over the past 18 months.

And now it seems as though they might be about to pull off another transfer coup.

Arsenal and Liverpool may be bigger names in the English game but Marca do not see it that way.

The Spanish outlet claim Newcastle are now the ‘best placed’ club in the race to sign him.

The report adds that there is a big and direct ‘bet’ on Veiga signing, and the midfielder ‘may soon become a new player of the team from the north of England’.

Any speculation at this stage of the year must be taken with a pinch of salt. And it is inevitable that the Magpies will be linked with numerous players.

Veiga has also been mentioned in connection with Real Madrid but that trail now seems to have gone cold.

Los Blancos are prioritising Borussia Dortmund schemer Jude Bellingham, leaving the way open for Newcastle to strike.

It was originally stated that Veiga’s release clause was €40m but Marca state it is actually €30m.

Either number will not faze the north-east outfit who look set to back Howe once again this summer.

READ MORE: Liverpool ‘open talks’ for Newcastle star as crippling exit avenues double following Barcelona contact