Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is reportedly a target for Liverpool, who are in the market for a wide attacker. However, it seems that the Napoli winger has changed his mind about quitting.
Liverpool is supposedly trying to add a wide forward this summer, although they haven’t signed him yet. Furthermore, a highly publicized aim could no longer be possible.
The Reds’ “opportunistic” move for Anthony Gordon, an England international and winger for Newcastle, was the most obvious indicator that they wanted to add a winger, after Ben Jacobs’ declaration (in an interview with GiveMeSport) that signing a forward was the “number one priority” for Liverpool this summer. However, no agreement was reached, and in the last few weeks, there has been no more discussion about the possible transfer.
However, there’s a risk that Gordon’s volume will begin to increase. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli, whose agent openly stated that the player was eager to leave the Serie A club, has also been linked to Liverpool. However, a recent report from Corriere dello Sport indicates that the Georgian has suddenly changed his mind about that.
Kvaratskhelia is reportedly open to signing a long-term deal. He apparently makes only $31k (£25k/€30k) each week, so it goes without saying that he will be searching for terms that are far better.
According to FBRef, even if his pay were double, he would still not be among Napoli’s top four earnings. The 23-year-old is already under contract with the team until 2027, so any extension reached now would likely keep him with the Serie A winners of 2022–2023 for at least that long.
Liverpool’s immediate interest in the 34-cap international would undoubtedly halt as a result of this (reported in the Evening Standard and others earlier in the summer). With the amount of money involved, it was already appearing to be a difficult transaction to close. It’s possible that Luis Díaz’s sale was required to provide money for a player who would have replaced the Colombian.
It makes sense to question if switching from one man to the other would be beneficial given that each is the other’s best statistical match on FBRef. It goes without saying that this would change considerably if Díaz decided to go.
According to rumors, Napoli didn’t want to lose Kvaratskhelia in any situation, and Victor Osimhen was likely to depart if a sufficiently high offer was made. Given his enormous weekly salary of $265k (£208k/€247k), his departure would undoubtedly help the Georgia international in the bargaining process. After all, there’s a sizable compensation that might be coming his way.
Even if moving to Liverpool was always a long shot, Kvaratskhelia’s change of heart eliminates a potential target from consideration. Although it was never likely, it could soon become more so.
