Kvaratskhelia update emerges after 'INDECENT' transfer offer

Tom Weber

• Updated: 15 Nov 2024 11:19 GMT
• 4 min read

Napoli and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are slowly but surely inching towards a contract extension, according to Italian media.

The Serie A giants are desperate to tie their 2023 Scudetto-winning MVP to the club long-term in a bid to fend off high-profile European interest. Arsenal have been frequently linked with the Georgian, while Barcelona and PSG reportedly 'dream' of signing Kvaratskhelia.

Indeed, it has been claimed that the Parisians tabled an eye-watering €200 million offer in the summer, with €100m going towards Kvaratskhelia and the other €100m towards his then-teammate Victor Osimhen.

READ MORE: Arsenal told price to beat Liverpool to Kudus transfer

Napoli rejected a bid that Gazzetta dello Sport has now described as 'indecent.' President Aurelio de Laurentiis 'pretended to be deaf' when PSG came calling, instead 'flattering [Kvaratskhelia] with a renewal proposal.'

Talks with the player's camp have been ongoing since the summer when both his father and his agent publically claimed that the player wanted to leave Naples.

Napoli closer to 'Kvaradona' extension

The above-mentioned outlet reports that while an agreement has still not been reached, Napoli and Kvaratskhelia are moving closer and closer. Previously, his representatives had asked for an €8m salary, with the player, despite his exploits, still only making €1.3m as stipulated when he signed in 2022.

However, it is now asserted that Kvaratskhelia's people agreed to lower their demands and that his wage is no longer the object of the disagreement between the two parties.

Instead, his release clause is now the real topic of discussion. After seeing the mess Osimhen's €130m price tag caused, Kvaratskhelia wants to have the option of leaving the club for a reasonable fee if and when he so desires.

The player's camp is asking for a clause set at €80m, while De Laurentiis is not willing to settle for anything lower than €100m. This is the real sticking point now in the talks, but both sides are determined to strike a deal.

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De Laurentiis previously claimed that selling Kvaratskhelia wouldn't be a big deal and that Napoli would 'get over it.' He is well aware of the massive profit he could turn on the Georgian if he were to sell him to PSG or one of his other suitors.

But behind the scenes, he accepts that the 23-year-old is almost irreplaceable, hence why he is desperate to successfully pull off the 'countermove' of securing his long-term commitment.