Napoli are coming to terms with the possibility of losing their star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the upcoming summer transfer window. TMW report how contract renewal negotiations with the Georgian international have been ongoing for over a year, but an agreement remains elusive.
Initially, there seemed to be progress when Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis traveled to Germany during Georgia’s national team camp. A proposal of around 5 million euros per year for a five-year contract was reportedly discussed. However, the latest meeting between the parties ended in a stalemate.
Kvaratskhelia’s father and agent, Mamuka Jugeli, are said to be demanding between 8-9 million euros annually, comparable to the salary of top Serie A players like Lautaro Martinez. These figures are beyond what Napoli is willing to offer, especially considering they are already managing Victor Osimhen’s high wages, despite his loan move to Galatasaray.
Without a contract extension, Kvaratskhelia is likely to be put on the market next summer, a move that even new manager Antonio Conte seems to accept. This could be Napoli’s last opportunity to cash in on the player significantly, following Paris Saint-Germain’s reported 100 million euro offer in the previous transfer window.
The situation mirrors that of Dusan Vlahovic at Juventus, where the player’s relatively low current salary could be leveraged to secure a substantial pay rise and potentially a signing bonus at a new club.
Napoli is expected to set Kvaratskhelia’s valuation in the three-digit millions, which would allow them to reinvest in high-potential talents. The club believes they could acquire a promising player for roughly half of Kvaratskhelia’s potential transfer fee, aiming to unearth another gem who could flourish in Naples.
