Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Napoli sensation KhvichaKvaratskhelia, albeit with sporting director Dan Ashworth likely to have to table a hefty offer for the Georgia international in the New Year.
What’s the word?
That’s according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who noted that the 21-year-old – who only arrived in Italy from Dinamo Batumi in the summer – is on the Magpies’ radar ahead of the January transfer window, although any deal is set cost far beyond £50m.
The transfer insider stated: “Newcastle keen on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Napoli laugh off £50m asking price.”
In the attached piece for 90min, the report suggests that the Serie A outfit are set to demand in excess of £100m if they are to part ways with the winger any time soon, with previous claims from the same publication suggesting that Luciano Spalletti’s side are confident of securing a contract extension.
This follows a recent report from the Times that also named the Tynesiders as a possible suitor, be it next month or at the end of the season.
‘Football is like Disneyland’
Kvaratskhelia – who has been affectionately named ‘Kvaradona’ in homage to the late great, Diego Maradona – has been one of the standout figures in European football this season, having recorded 13 goal involvements in just 12 games in the Italian top-flight, as well as five goals and assists in just five games in the Champions League this term.
Having been a relative unknown prior to the start of the season, the fleet-footed forward is now shining as part of a side that are surging towards a Scudetto triumph, with Spalletti’s men currently eight points clear at the summit.
Equally, the explosive ace also compares favourably to his European peers, with the one-time Dinamo Tbilisi man ranking in the top 3% among those in his position for assists, as well as in the top 10% for dribbles completed, as a marker of his dynamic brilliance.
Not only has the 6-foot ace been a true potent threat from the flanks in recent months, it has also been the manner in which has performed that has caught the eye, having been notably lauded as “cheeky” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp earlier this term.
A player for whom “football is like Disneyland” due to his pure enjoyment – in the words of former Ruban Kazan boss Leonid Slutsky – the 19-cap superstar has also been praised by the New York Times’ Rory Smith, with the respected journalist stating:
“I genuinely haven’t enjoyed watching someone play football as much as I enjoy watching Khvicha Kvaratskhelia play football for years. He’s instinctive, untamed, anarchic and, most of all, he’s really, really good fun.”
With the St James’ Park outfit believed to be targetting a new winger in the New Year, turning to the in-form asset could be the solution that Ashworth is craving, with such an addition only likely to strengthen the bid for top-four qualification.
Indeed, the Disney-like fun he could bring to the north east would be unparallel.