Exclusive: Arsenal and Manchester City lead race to sign 16-year-old wonderkid

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC understands Premier League giants Manchester City and Arsenal are leading the chase to land Georgian starlet Vakhtang Salia – considered one of the best teenage prospects in the world.

Arsenal and Manchester City met in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, playing out a 0-0 draw.

Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola know each other so well and the two teams cancelled each other out at the Etihad Stadium.

Both sides were in action on Wednesday night with Arsenal beating Luton Town 2-0 and Manchester City seeing off Aston Villa with a 4-1 victory.

Arsenal and City will battle it out with Liverpool for the Premier League title but they are also in the mix for an exciting signing.

Arsenal and Manchester City keen on Georgian wonderkid

HITC understand that Arsenal and City are leading the race for Dinamo Tbilisi talent Vakhtang Salia.

The 16-year-old forward is already starting for Dinamo and has started the season with two goals and two assists in six appearances.

Europe’s biggest clubs were already aware of Salia before he started the new season in fine form, but now clubs are flocking to check on the youngster.

HITC can reveal that both City and Arsenal are already looking into a deal for Salia, who is being talked about as the new Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – the current star of Georgian football.

Kvaratskhelia – formerly of Dinamo Tbilisi himself – has taken Italian football by storm in recent years.

The winger has hit 24 goals and 23 assists in 81 games for Napoli and HITC understands that Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United have eyed Kvaratskhelia.

Premier League interest in Vakhtang Salia

City are not alone in their admiration of Salia though Chelsea and Tottenham have also watched him, whilst HITC is told that Liverpool and Manchester United are aware of his progress.

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have also watched Salia in recent weeks.

It has been suggested that Salia could even force himself into the Georgia squad ahead of the Euro 2024 finals this summer.

Georgia beat Greece on penalties last week, booking their spot at Euro 2024.

Willy Sagnol’s side will take on Turkey, Czechia and Portugal and Salia may be able to force his way into the side as interest in his signature mounts.