Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly agreed a deal with Napoli Sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was a target for Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
The Georgian winger has been linked with a move away from Napoli since his agent Mamuka Jugeli revealed his client wanted to compete in the Champions League in the summer.
Napoli boss Antonio Conte bluntly expressed Kvaratskhelia’s desire to leave last week. “Khvicha demanded the sale of the club,” the coach sighed. “I’m disappointed, I realized it was a bolt from the blue and I’m taking a step back. I would never want him to think I chained him here if he stayed.”
Manchester United emerged as the primary contenders in the race for the 23-year-old and were soon joined by Liverpool and Chelsea. However, Paris Saint-Germain appear to be close to securing Kvaratskhelia’s coveted signing.
Accordingly, the French giants have reached a “verbal agreement” with Napoli on a deal initially worth €70m (£59m). Fabrizio Romano. Both sets of owners have yet to give the green light – and Napoli boss Aurelio De Laurentiis has a reputation as a tough negotiator – but Kvaratskhelia is expected to sign a five-year deal in the coming days.
Conte excluded his star striker from Napoli’s first two games of the new year – both of which he won – as he is already starting to plan a future without the Georgian. There have been links suggesting Napoli would be interested in United’s Alejandro Garnacho as Kvaratskhelia’s replacement, although a €70m price tag for the Argentine could be a dealbreaker.
United’s search for attacking reinforcements in January did not end with Kvaratskhelia. The Red Devils are believed to be eyeing young RB Salzburg striker Nene Dorgeles.
The 22-year-old winger does not have the same pedigree as Kvaratskhelia, a player who earned comparisons to Diego Maradona while leading Napoli to their first league title in 33 years, but the Georgian superstar was even more unknown when he moved than Dinamo Batumi’s Nene in 2022 to Italy.