Newcastle highlight Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as major transfer target

Newcastle United have highlighted Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as their top transfer target, according to TimesSport.

The Georgian forward has taken Europe by storm since joining Napoli from Georgia-based club Dinamo Batumi just last summer.

The 21-year-old has notched up eight goals and ten assists in 17 appearances across all competitions. But his world-class decision-making in the final third and remarkable dribbling ability has also made him a standout performer thus far.

Kvaratskhelia has been the protagonist in Napoli’s sensational form this season, with Luciano Spalletti’s side yet to suffer defeat in Serie A.

The runaway league leaders have been invincible, winning 13 of their 15 games and drawing just two thus far and there is growing optimism that the Scudetto could return to Naples for the first time in over three decades.

A player signed for just £10 million, Napoli will demand at least five times that figure from any club looking to sign Kvaratskhelia next summer.

The fleet-footed electrifying winger has no shortage of admirers, and Newcastle have now joined the race for the forward, having watched him extensively before the World Cup break.

Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli had shrugged off rumours linking Kvaratskhelia with a move away from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, insisting he is not for sale.

The club have also been working towards offering the Georgian a new contract that will most likely come with a significant pay rise to fend off interest from abroad, but nothing has been finalised yet.

Newcastle will have to fight off interest from Europe’s elite clubs, with Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid and French giants Paris Saint-Germain also interested in the winger.

A January move may be out of the question as Napoli are chasing the Scudetto, but the Italian giants may struggle to keep their new-found prized jewel away from the claws of the big spenders next summer.