Gabri Veiga insists his decision to change agents in April has helped him mature as Liverpool continue to monitor his situation at Celta Vigo.
But the Reds transfer target says he is not thinking about his long-term future just yet as Celta brace themselves for interest in the 21-year-old this window.
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 last week.
Khephren Thuram of OGC Nice is a target alongside the likes of Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich's Netherlands international Ryan Gravenberch, Southampton teenager Romeo Lavia and Veiga, whose performances have taken him to the cusp of the senior Spain squad.
READ MORE: James Milner set for Liverpool reunion as free transfer confirmed
READ MORE: Liverpool have new top midfield target as Khephren Thuram agent sparks transfer intrigue
Having brought in 24-year-old World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister last week, Liverpool are looking at a younger and less experienced profile next as they continue to restructure a midfield department that lost James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo at the end of the season.
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 will likely be part of Spain Under-21 squad for this month's European Championships in Romania and Georgia, reportedly has a release clause of around £34m.
Despite interest from Anfield, however, the Spaniard insists he is merely focusing on the upcoming Euros, although he did concede that he parted ways with his representatives earlier this year to sign up with Gol International, which is owned by influential agent Pini Zahavi.
That decision has prompted talk that Veiga is ready to move away from Celta this summer but the player himself refused to be drawn when speaking at a press conference.
“I’m not here to talk about my future, only my present. I want to be in the final [squad] of the Europeans,” Veiga said. “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.
"If you know how to manage them in a mature way, all praise is well received, but you have to know how to manage it. I have spent little time preparing these questions, I am mature in that sense. I am not used to speaking in public but I think I am doing quite well. I want to mature day by day. I don't think about the future, what better than with this group of players that we have in the under-21s.”
Speaking earlier this year, Celta president Calro Mourino admitted that selling Veiga this summer was something they will be powerless to stop if his release clause is met and the midfielder has also been reportedly attracting the attention of Newcastle and Arsenal.
“We do not want to sell Gabri Veiga but he will be bought from us," Mourino said. "And there, we cannot do anything. We know some of their offers and it is impossible to get there. Gabri is a Celta player, he has that feeling.
“There are several teams behind Gabri. Real Madrid? They haven’t asked us, we don’t know if they will have called the player.
“For us, and to make it clear, he is not for sale. We have nothing to negotiate with anyone. We refer to the clause. From the top 10 in the Premier League, four have asked about him. The decision is Gabri’s, he will play wherever he wants."
READ NEXT:
