Portuguese giants FC Porto reportedly look set to beat Newcastle United to the signature of Spanish sensation Gabri Veiga.
According to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United look set to miss out on the services of Gabri Veiga, who is pushing to make a return to Europe this summer. While he is ready to leave Al-Ahli, the Spanish midfielder seems to prefer a move to FC Porto over the Premier League club.
Veiga made quite a name for himself coming up the ranks at Celta de Vigo. After an impressive debut campaign with their first team, some of the biggest clubs were after his signature but to everyone’s surprise, the Spaniard chose to make the move to the Saudi Pro League.
After two highly successful seasons with Al-Ahli in the Middle East, the 22-year-old is now keen on securing a return to Europe. Newcastle United, who wanted to sign him before he left Europe, have reignited their interest in him.
But it seems the Magpies might miss out on him for the second time as FC Porto are in pole position to sign the youngster who could be available for as little as £16 million. While speaking to Football Insider, Pete O’Rourke talked about the Spanish youth international’s potential return to Europe.
O’Rourke’s take on Veiga’s possible return to Europe
He said, “Newcastle have a long term interest… They were interested in signing him from Celta Vigo before he made that surprise move to the Saudi Pro League. “He is seeking a move back to Europe, so it’s no surprise that Newcastle are among those clubs linked with his services.”
“But, it does seem right now that Porto are in the box seat… for around £16-17 million. Obviously they’ll be hoping that Veiga decides to make that move to Portugal – rather than elsewhere across Europe – so it stands right now, it looks like Newcastle might be beaten to the punch.”
Newcastle United to miss out on Gabri Veiga yet again
The Magpies need a new attacking midfielder, and Veiga is quite high on their wishlist. They have been monitoring him over the years and feel he could be a great fit for them in the short as well as the long run.
Securing UEFA Champions League football means they no longer need to worry about the future of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães. Despite that, Eddie Howe wants to add more quality to his midfield and he is a big fan of Veiga.
While the Tyneside club have been working on a potential transfer, it seems they will miss out on his signature yet again. FC Porto are also pushing to sign the 22-year-old, and they are believed to be in the driving seat at this stage.
The youngster seems to prefer a move to Portugal, and they are looking to close the deal as soon as possible to avoid competition from other European giants. With him set to be available for a bargain fee, this could be a massive blow for the Premier League club, who have been interested in him for years now.
