Manchester City handed boost in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia pursuit – report

Napoli attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is reportedly reluctant to agree to a new contract with the Partenopei amid links with Manchester City.

The 21-year-old has been a shining light for the Italian powerhouses during their bright start to the season, coming up with seven goals and eight assists in 14 outings in all tournaments.

Kvaratskhelia has 10 goal contributions to boast from as many games in his debut Serie A campaign – five strikes and five assists – while he has scored twice and set up three more goals in the Champions League.

The Georgia international still has just under five years left to run on his Napoli contract after joining for just £9m in the summer, but multiple clubs are keeping tabs on his performances.

A recent report claimed that Man City were among the teams ready to make a move for Kvaratskhelia, who is also on the radar of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Interested parties have apparently been handed a boost to their chances of striking a deal for the attacker, as The Sun claims that he is hesitant to put pen to paper on a new Napoli deal.

The report claims that Luciano Spalletti’s side want to hand the youngster a bumper new deal, and a release clause of £65m would be inserted into the contract.

However, Kvaratskhelia is instead keen to assess all of his options before making a firm decision on his future, and he should not be short of offers if he does decide to head elsewhere.

Kvaratskhelia endured spells in Russia with Lokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan, spending nearly three years with the latter before leaving in March following the invasion of Ukraine.

The attacker briefly returned to his homeland with Dinamo Batumi before heading to Napoli, having scored eight goals in 11 games in Georgia during the spring months.

Man City reportedly believe that their association with former Georgia international Georgi Kinkladze – who spent three years at the club – will aid their efforts to sign Kvaratskhelia.

As per Daily Mail, City are said to be thinking of swooping in and trying to purchase him at a cut price, despite the embarrassment of riches already available to Guardiola.

Kinkladze was on the books at Man City for three years between 1995 and 1998, during which he scored 22 goals in 121 appearances.

The 49-year-old won the club’s Player of the Year award on two occasions in 1996 and 1997, as well as making the PFA First Division Team of the Year in the latter year and 1998.

After leaving Man City, Kinkladze – who made 57 appearances for his country – enjoyed spells at Derby County, Ajax, Anorthosis and Rubin Kazan before hanging up his boots.