‘Deal done’ - Fabrizio Romano makes £34m Newcastle United & Liverpool transfer claim

Fabrizio Romano has denied that Newcastle United are close to signing Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga - insisting the race for his signature remains open.

Sources in Spain earlier this month claimed the Magpies were on the verge of beating the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool to the 21-year-old’s signature but, as also reported by NewcastleWorld, those reports were wide of the mark.

Celta president Carlos Mourino has already said he expects to lose Veiga, who recently signed with Israeli superagent Pini Zahavi, this summer because of his £34million release clause.

“We do not want to sell him under any circumstances but they are going to buy him from us,” Mourino said. “We know some of the offers, we would not have the capacity to pay him what other teams do.

“Gabri has a Celtic feeling and will always have the doors open but he will depend exclusively on him and he is What they are offering him is irrefutable. He will decide where he wants to go but that club will have to pay the clause.”

Veiga marked what is likely to be his final appearance for Celta with a man-of-the-match display against Barcelona on the final day of the La Liga season last month.

The midfielder scored twice and cut an emotional figure throughout the evening - prompting talk of a farewell appearance - as Celta avoided relegation from Spain’s top-flight.

As per Romano, Liverpool are monitoring Veiga’s situation. Newcastle, meanwhile, are understood to have distanced themselves from a potential deal, for now.