Chelsea are reportedly seeking a significant transfer fee for Renato Veiga, potentially allowing them to make a large profit on the unsettled squad player just months after his arrival.
Veiga, who joined Chelsea from Basel for around £12m in July, has struggled to secure a consistent place in the team. Although he primarily played in midfield during his time in Switzerland, he has mainly been used as a backup left-back at Chelsea, filling in for first-choice Marc Cucurella.
At just 21 years old, it seems Veiga has grown frustrated with his limited role, having started only once in the Premier League and rarely being deployed in his preferred position of centre-back. Reports earlier this month suggested that personal terms with Borussia Dortmund had already been agreed.
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Multiple sources now indicate that an exit is likely if Chelsea can finalize the terms. BBC Sport reported that talks are already underway with Dortmund, with Chelsea initially seeking a permanent transfer but open to an initial loan deal if it includes an obligation to buy.
The Guardian claims Chelsea’s asking price is “more than £20m,” while The Athletic has specified a figure of up to £29m, adding that the club would also request a sell-on clause as part of the deal.
Chelsea could potentially more than double their money on Veiga, who has made an impression internationally, earning three senior caps for Portugal — all of which were in his preferred centre-back role.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, however, didn’t seem overly sympathetic to Veiga’s frustration, stating that his deployment in various positions had led to interest from clubs and a national team call-up. He remarked, “If there is a player that just wants to play in one position, then they are going to struggle.”
When asked if Veiga was seeking more regular playing time, Maresca humorously added, “I also want the long hair, but we have 24 or 25 players, so it is not possible.”
