Paris Saint-Germain are pushing to beat Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City to the signing of Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga.
Chelsea have targeted Veiga as a replacement for Mason Mount, who is set to undergo a medical before joining Manchester United. The Celta midfielder emerged as one of the best young players in Europe last season and his contract contains a €40m (£34.4m) release clause.
Liverpool and City have looked at Veiga, who plays predominantly as a No 6 or a No 8, while there is interest from Barcelona. However PSG are are looking to strengthen in midfield and are intensifying their efforts to sign Veiga, who scored 11 goals and made four assists in 36 La Liga games last season.
The French champions are yet to trigger the 21-year-old’s release clause and other clubs could still come into the picture. Chelsea need additions in midfield after losing Mount, N’Golo Kanté and Mateo Kovacic. Veiga is prominent on their shortlist and sources expect them to move for the Spaniard this month.
Chelsea’s priority is to secure a deal for the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder, Moisés Caicedo. There is hope that £80m will be enough to land the Ecuador midfielder. Chelsea have no interest in including Levi Colwill as part of a deal for Caicedo and want to hand Colwill a new long-term deal. However, the 20-year-old centre-back wants to hold talks with the club’s new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, before making a decision on his future.
Chelsea are also interested in Roméo Lavia, who is expected to leave Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League. Southampton want £45m for Lavia, who is being targeted by Arsenal and Liverpool. The 19-year-old could be too expensive for United.
Chelsea are in the process of a major revamp of their squad and are looking to sell Christian Pulisic. Lyon have made a bid of £21.5m for Pulisic but the American winger wants to join Milan, who have only offered £12m. Chelsea could look to add more creativity by moving for the Lyon youngster, Rayan Cherki.
Brighton have identified Ajax’s Calvin Bassey as an alternative to Colwill. Bassey was of interest to Brighton before he joined Ajax from Rangers for £18.7m last summer. Roberto De Zerbi wants a left-sided centre-back and the Nigeria international, who could also cover for Pervis Estupiñán at left-back, is the right profile of player.
