Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool showing interest in Spanish wonderkid Gabri Veiga
Virtually every top club in Europe has been tracking Gabri Veiga. The Celta De Vigo midfielder has nine league goals and four assists this season. With Veiga contracted until 2026, Celta De Vigo’s position has been simple: pay the €40m release clause or there will be no summer transfer. However, as we saw with Enzo Fernandez’s move to Chelsea from Benfica, a club stance can be tested by a large offer with a different type of payment structure.
As Fabrizio Romano revealed, Veiga has also switched to so-called ‘super-agent’ Pini Zahavi. This will certainly help Veiga should concrete options, away from his release clause, materialise. Veiga is contracted until 2026, but open to a summer move.
Arsenal’s interest is long standing. He’s been on their radar for quite some time. Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern are four other teams to watch.
Barcelona, like other clubs, have scouted Veiga, but there’s nothing more than that at this stage. Joan Laporta has his work cut out to pull off any signings of this nature amid other key priorities and a desire to bring Lionel Messi back, too. LaLiga’s stringent financial rules don’t give Barca much leeway.
Could Ollie Watkins really make “dream move” to Arsenal?
Ollie Watkins is one of the form strikers in Europe right now, but Aston Villa have no intention to let him leave. Talks are ongoing over a new contract and there remains confidence within the club Watkins will extend. His current deal expires in 2025.
Watkins has 11 goals in his last 15 league games and 14 in the Premier League in total. One more goal, and it will be his best league return at Villa. Unai Emery views Watkins as essential. I also understand Watkins is very open to extending, and Villa will be in an even stronger position if they qualify for Europe.
Links with Arsenal and Bayern Munich are premature at this point. Watkins, like Harry Kane, is not believed to be tempted by a move to the Bundesliga. He wants to stay in the Premier League and fight his way more regularly into the England set up. Bayern haven’t made any approach either.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Villa add another striker to complement Watkins and he extends his stay at Villa Park. On the other hand, a move to Arsenal wouldn’t guarantee as much game time. Watkins, when at Brentford, did call Arsenal a “dream move”. But given what Emery is building at Villa, and the fact Watkins is an automatic starter, extending on improved terms remains the most likely outcome.