Blow for Liverpool despite Antonio Conte confirming Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wants move
Today at 10:02 AM
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wants to leave Napoli but Paris Saint-Germain are leading the way to sign him ahead of his Premier League suitors.
The 23-year-old has been a hit with the Italian club since his move from Dinamo Batumi in his homeland of Georgia back in 2022.
He has scored 30 goals for Napoli and helped them win the Serie A title in 2023, still an important part of the team that is sitting top of the table again this season.
However, his manager has confirmed that the Georgian wants to leave the club, making his feelings clear to the hierarchy.
Conte suggests that an exit is now inevitable after failing to convince the forward to stay in the six months he has been in charge of Napoli.
Liverpool and Chelsea have both been credited with an interest in Kvaratskhelia, but PSG look to be ahead of them in the race for his signature.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that the Ligue 1 side has ‘agreed every term of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's contract for the next five years’ and will pay him four or five times more than he earns at Napoli.
Negotiations are now ongoing between the clubs to agree a fee, which is likely to be in the £58m-68m region.
Speaking on Saturday Conte explained that Kvaratskhelia has made it plain that he wants to leave, with the former Chelsea boss saying: ‘I have never hidden away from uncomfortable questions. If I speak, I'll tell the truth, otherwise I prefer to stay quiet, I don't tell lies.
‘We are talking about an important player. A player who was already due to leave in the summer.
‘He asked the club to be sold, without mincing his words. This is what was said to me, the player has confirmed his decision to me.
‘Personally I feel very disappointed, because I spent six months trying to make Kvara feel at the centre of the project, working with him, showing him that we could do something great and also working with the club for six months on the renewal.
‘From my point of view, it's a great disappointment. Today I have to take a step back. I can't keep those who want to leave tied up in chains. I did that in the summer and had six months to convince all the parties to find a solution.’
He added that the want-away forward will not be involved on Sunday against Verona, saying: ‘I realise that the news has come out of the blue, but now I am taking a step back and it's right that the club and Kvara's entourage resolve the situation.
‘And so, he is not available for Verona. We will see what happens. We will lose an important player, but for the meantime, let's focus on Verona.’
