Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is reportedly closing in on a return to management with La Liga side Celta Vigo.
Benitez has been out of work since being sacked by Everton in January 2022 after just six-and-a-half months in charge. Prior to that, he had a spell in China with Dalian Professional.
And now, according to Spanish publication Revelo, negotiations between Celta and Benitez have "accelerated" in the hope of reaching an agreement this week. The La Liga side has been on the hunt for a new manager following the departure of Carlos Carvalhal.
Should Benitez succeed Carvalhal at Estadio de Balaidos, then one of his first tasks will be to discuss the future of key midfielder Gabri Veiga. The ECHO understands Veiga is one of several midfielders Liverpool are considering at present as Jurgen Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke look to add further to the engine-room ranks following the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Veiga enjoyed an excellent campaign with Celta last term, creating four assists and scoring 11 goals in 36 games, and the 21-year-old, who is part of the Spain Under-21 squad for this month's European Championships in Romania and Georgia, reportedly has a release clause of around £34m.
There be appears to be a strong possibility that Liverpool's next midfield signing could be someone who will be playing at the Under-21 Euros. Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram (both France), plus Ryan Gravenberch (Holland), are also on the Reds' shortlist, like Veiga. And like Veiga, they will be playing in the tournament that kicks-off this week.
Speaking about his future recently, Veiga said: "I’m not here to talk about my future, only my present. I want to be in the final [squad] of the Europeans.
"It’s been a bit of a mess. I left my [agent, and then I took some time off. I went with the one that I think is the best, and I think I’ve matured a lot.
"I don’t think about my future; I want to live in the present and the national team. What I want for my future is to be in the European Championship, because there is still the final list, and then to win it. I am here in the national team, in a very nice challenge."
The Athletic are now reporting that Benitez is close to becoming the new manager of Celta.
