Dynamo Batumi owner Archil Beridze has responded to speculation linking Kvicha Kvaratskhelia with a move to Premier League giants Arsenal, telling Championat that he wants the winger to stay put.
12 months ago, Kvaratskhelia confirmed that he had held talks with Leeds United regarding a potential £18 million move to Elland Road.
Later that summer, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace came calling, at a time when some were comparing the hot-stepping winger with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, among others.
At the time, no one would ever have guessed that Kvaratskhelia would be returning to his Georgian homeland with Dinamo Batumi a year later.
But, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Kvaratskhelia’s position at RPL outfit Rubin Kazan quickly became untenable.
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The 21-year-old terminated his contract at Rubin before signing a two-year deal with Dinamo Batumi. Whether he sees out that deal remains to be seen.
With the likes of Arsenal interested, it certainly seems unlikely that the reigning Georgian champions will be able to stop Kvaratskhelia’s head from turning, even if Beridze is at pains to point out that a summer exit is far from inevitable (AreaNapoli).
Is Kvicha Kvaratskhelia finally heading to the Premier League?
“Today, Kvaratskhelia is a Dynamo player. I only think of him fully realising himself here,” says Beridze when asked about Arsenal’s alleged interest.
“Of course, although we understand that (keeping him) is not easy. Different circumstances played a role (in the transfer). The player also wanted to play for us.
“The fact is that this is an indicator of our ambitions. Now we have to get into the main European competitions. Not the Champions League yet, but definitely the Europa League.”
According to Il Mattino, Leeds and Tottenham are back in for Kvaratskhelia ahead of the summer transfer window.
The jet-heeled youngster, who was also offered to Everton in early 2021, was ‘very disappointed’ to miss out on a move to the Premier League last year and one suspects that, if Leeds or Spurs come calling again, he will be determined to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
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