Real Madrid told to pay €40 million to sign Bellingham alternative

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 4 Mar 2023 15:29 GMT
• 3 min read

Real Madrid have lined up an alternative if they fail to sign Jude Bellingham next summer, and whilst he won't come cheap, he will cost significantly less than the Englishman.

Bellingham is widely understood to be Real Madrid's top transfer target, but the European champions face fierce competition from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City for the England midfielder's signature.

Should they miss out on Bellingham, Gabri Veiga has been scouted as an alternative, the Spain under-21 international currently plying his trade with Celta Vigo.

READ: Who is Gabri Veiga? The Celta Vigo wonderkid wanted by Man Utd

Gabri has hit eight goals and provided three assists from his 22 La Liga games this season, with only veteran striker Iago Aspas involved in more goals for los Celestes than the youngster. He recently signed fresh terms which have doubled his asking price.

Gabri's release clause

"Los Blancos know that they will have to pay €40 million to complete Veiga's signing, this being his new release clause," report Fichajes. "The previous clause was €20m.

"The new amount is still something Madrid could table with little problem, a signing to get ahead of the European competition with a promising domestic player."

READ: Real Madrid postpone Bellingham pursuit to 2024

Enzo Fernandez's €120m move from Benfica to Chelsea in January has helped inflate the market for central midfielders, and Dortmund are hoping to fetch us much as €150m for Bellingham.

Madrid dropped €100m on Aurelien Tchouameni last summer, though, and they could be tempted to spend big again with the futures of veteran pair Luka Modric and Toni Kroos still uncertain.

Gabri could prove a fine alternative, however. As well as his goals and assists, the 20-year-old has averaged three progressive carries and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes over the last year.

Gabri is valued at €12.8m per FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm with an ETV of €16m at this early stage of his career.