Newcastle United are weighing up a potentially season-defining £50m move for Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, according to reports.
The 21-year-old has been lighting up the Serie A with the league leaders this season, but the Magpies will face competition from the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City for his signature.
Kvaratskhelia could be exactly what Eddie Howe needs to maintain Newcastle’s push for Champions League qualification this season.
The Georgian is currently enjoying the best period of his career so far for Napoli, with eight goals and 10 assists in 17 games for the Partenopei.
He already has plenty of experience under his belt too, with five Champions League appearances and 19 international appearances to his name already.
A pacey, direct player with an eye for goal, Kvaratskhelia could bring some extra attacking spark to St James’ Park
Napoli bought the winger for just £10m at the start of the season and he has quickly become one of their most important players.
Following his good form, the now-multi-billionaires Newcastle have made him a top target for the next two transfer windows.
£50m may be too good to turn down for Napoli
While he would be a big loss, the Italian club could be tempted to cash in on the youngster should Newcastle table a £50m offer, according to The Times.
The Toon have already brought in some fantastic players since their takeover last year: Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes are just some of the players who have turned Newcastle from relegation contenders to top four hopefuls.
Kvaratskhelia would be another smart addition. A versatile player, who can play anywhere across the front three, the Georgian could slot in nicely alongside Callum Wilson or Alexander Isak, as an alternative to Joelinton or Allan Saint-Maximin.
However, Toon fans will be hoping that the winger’s head doesn’t get turned by the other Premier League clubs reportedly in for him.
Manchester City are another club that could be interested, while Liverpool also registered an interest after the Georgian ripped them apart with a fantastic performance in September, when Napoli beat the Reds 4-1 in the Champions League.
The Reds have still never really replaced Sadio Mane’s goals since he left for Bayern in June, so you can understand why Jurgen Klopp is keen on the winger.
Toon may have to bide their time for Kvaratskhelia
However, the reality is, it’s unlikely Napoli would allow one of their star players to leave mid-season, even with a sizeable offer.
As mentioned, Napoli are currently unbeaten and top of the table in the Serie A and are set for a Round of 16 Champions League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt in February.
Also, while £50m may sound like a lot of money for Kvaratskhelia now, if the Georgian can maintain his current run of form then that valuation could double by next summer, especially with the likes of PSG and Real Madrid reportedly threatening to join the race.
The last time Napoli won the league title was 1990, so you’d think being a part of ending a 32-year drought would be more important to Kvaratskhelia than a big-money move.
Saying that, Newcastle do have PLENTY of money, so while unlikely, nothing is out of the realms of possibility in January.
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