Newcastle United still have a way to go in the transfer market it would seem.
While they have managed to see off the likes of AC Milan and Arsenal to sign Sven Botman and Bruno Guimaraes respectively, the more the club look at signing elite players, the more competition there will be.
Indeed, Eddie Howe’s side are – rather naturally – not yet in the business of winning trophies at this early stage of their development in the PIF era. With that in mind, it’s not always going to be easy to win potential transfer battles until they have some tangible success to point towards.
Again, that is not a criticism of the club by any means. Less than two years since the takeover, there’s still plenty of time to start collecting silverware. Still, it’s a problem the club will encounter, particularly when going up against teams who are currently at the level Newcastle would like to be at.
Gabri Veiga wants Arsenal move
Case in point comes from a report in Spanish publication Mundo Deporitvo (via HITC).
They claim that, despite Newcastle’s willingness to activate a £33m release clause in Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga’s contract, it is Arsenal who are more likely to win the race.
It is suggested that the 20-year-old would prefer to move to the Emirates Stadium over joining Newcastle, although Real Madrid are also believed to be in the race.
Blow for Newcastle – but there will be other targets
The idea of being snubbed is never a nice of course.
Still, there is so much faith within the recruitment system at the club right now that it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where Newcastle are left short. If the noises coming out of Veiga’s camp are that he’s not keen on the idea, it seems unlikely too much time will be spent chasing a lost cause.
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