Revealed: Napoli's transfer stance on Liverpool and Man City target Kvaratskhelia

FT Desk

• 27 Oct 2022 10:06 BST
• 4 min read

Napoli's Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, nicknamed 'Kvaradona', has been attracting admiring glances from a pair of Premier League giants after starring for the Serie A leaders this season.

Kvaratskhelia only joined Napoli from Dinamo Batumi for €11 million in July, but seven goals and eight assists from just 15 games in all competitions later and he has had scouts from Liverpool, Manchester City and others reporting back to base with glistening appraisals.

Napoli are currently top of Serie A, three points clear of champions AC Milan, and they raced to qualification for the Champions League knock-out rounds as favourites to finish above Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers in Group A.

Napoli have won more game to play the groups having beaten Rangers 3-0 on Wednesday. Kvaratskhelia was rested for the game, watching all 90 minutes from the bench at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but that was simply to manage his minutes.

"He's doing very well, as are many," said Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli. "There's a long way until the transfer window opens, but there is absolutely nothing in [the speculation he could leave]. We're very happy and we want to keep doing well.

Giuntoli: 'not for sale'

"Is Kvaratskhelia off the market? Absolutely, he's not for sale."

Napoli have come to be viewed as something of a selling club, and they were unable to keep captain Kalidou Koulibaly and influential midfielder Fabian Ruiz at the club this summer, the pair joining Chelsea and PSG respectively.

As well as Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen and Min-jae Kim have attracted interest, mainly from the big-money Premier League clubs, but Giuntoli insists his side won't need to sell next summer like they did last.

"I repeat, we're not thinking about the transfer market right now. We try to grow day by day and see what we can achieve.

"Our transfer strategy is always done with the head and not the heart, both for incoming and outgoing players. I think we've always managed to form a competitive squad and we are doing well this season too."