Forget Kvaradona: Chelsea eye another Georgian star

Stuart Telford

• 18 Apr 2023 12:06 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea were linked with Napoli's Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the January transfer window but they now look more likely to sign his international teammate and Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Kvaratskhelia has attracted interest from throughout the Premier League, with Liverpool and Manchester City also credited with an interest in the winger, who's 12 goals and 12 assists are helping Napoli towards a first Serie A title in 33 years.

But Napoli have slapped a price tag of more than €100 million on Kvaratskhelia, and with Christopher Nkunku set to join from RB Leipzig anyway, a final third operator in 'Kvaradona's' vein is no longer a priority at Stamford Bridge this summer.

READ: REVEALED: The goalkeepers Chelsea want to replace Kepa and Mendy

Chelsea remain in the market for a new goalkeeper, however, with Edouard Mendy yet to win his place back from Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has nonetheless struggled to convince in the Senagalese's absence, and Kvaratskhelia's compatriot could fit the bill.

Chelsea 'monitoring' Mamardashvili

"Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to leave Valencia in any case at the end of the season despite a contract extension signed few months ago," transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano posted on Twitter.

"I'm told Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring his development; Leicester met with his agent 10 days ago."

READ: Who is Giorgi Mamardashvili? The giant Valencia goalkeeper wanted by Man Utd

Mamardashvili stands at an imposing 6'6" and has kept 16 clean sheets with Valencia since joining from Dinamo Tbilisi in 2021, but his ability to join in the build-up play means he boasts some of the best features of Mendy and Kepa.

Mamardashvili is valued at €32.1m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm - a number that would normally be well inside Chelsea's reach, although the Blues will have to offload others this summer as the shadow of Financial Fair Play looms.

Incumbent No.1 Kepa remains the most expensive goalkeeper of all time after Chelsea paid Atletico Bilbao €80m for him in 2018.