Jurgen Klopp would approve of Newcastle's 'ambitious bid' for "cheeky" star
As Eddie Howe scours the transfer market in his bid to bolster Newcastle United's attack ahead of the new season, the name Khvicha Kvaratskhelia continues to crop up.
The Magpies will play in the Champions League, for the first time since 2003, after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season. Newcastle have already made one high-profile addition this summer in the form of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan but are looking to add more.
That has led to claims that the Magpies are moving for Napoli star Kvaratskhelia, who scored 12 times and grabbed 13 assists in 47 matches for the Italian champions last season. The 21-year-old played a key role as Napoli lifted the Scudetto.
He also grabbed the eye and garnered plenty of praise for his showings in European football's premier club competition, notably during Napoli's thrashing of Liverpool in the group stages.
Kvaratskhelia grabbed two goals and three assists in the groups altogether and caught Jurgen Klopp's eye after Napoli played Liverpool at Anfield last November. Although Kvaratskhelia was on the losing side in a 2-0 win for the Reds, Klopp was wowed by what he saw from the Georgian international.
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected
Speaking at the time, Klopp said: "He [Kvaratskhelia] is really good, the boy, and really quick and you have to defend him together in these moments. When he has the advantage of the first movement, then he is already gone.
"You have to try to be there in the moment when the ball arrives, but if you cannot do that then you need to be protected because he has speed, he is cheeky, he goes inside, he can go outside, that makes it always really difficult."
Jurgen Klopp has given the seal of approval over Newcastle's pursuit of signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Getty Images)Newcastle are in the market for a new wide man as Howe seeks fresh frontline talent, with the ex-Bournemouth boss wanting to add an extra dimension to an attack that includes the likes of Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron and Anthony Gordon - especially if Allan Saint-Maximim departs.
Harvey Barnes, who scored 13 Premier League goals last season for relegated Leicester, is wanted by the Magpies too, but according to reports in Saudi Arabia, as highlighted by Football-Italia, a mega-money bid for the Georgian flier is in the offing - to the tune of £82million.
Money is no object for the Toon with their Saudi owners, but how they square that off with Financial Fair Play rules given the club's incomings and outgoings makes the move appear questionable - especially at such a price.
That is unless there's a big-money outgoing, like Saint-Maximin, linked with a move to Saudi.
Howe has been putting his current squad through their paces in pre-season and they began with a 3-2 win over non-league Gateshead on Saturday. The fifth-tier outfit raced into a two-goal lead through goals from Marcus Dinanga and Ste Wearne, before Newcastle forged a second-half comeback.
Goals from Elliot Anderson, Saint-Maximin and Jay Turner-Cooke earned the Magpies the victory at the Gateshead International Stadium.
Speaking after the game, Howe said: "I wasn't happy at half-time. There's no understanding. They're tired but they're professional footballers. You're always tired to a degree. You've got to push and you've got to want more. The attitude to the game was much better in the second period."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
