Arsenal told Kvaratskhelia 'would come' in potential world record move
Arsenal have been informed that Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would be open to a move to the Premier League should the club make a suitable approach, according to the player’s former coach. David Webb, who spent three years as an assistant coach for the Georgian national team, told talkSPORT that the 25-year-old winger would be tempted by the right opportunity in England, specifically naming Arsenal among the clubs he follows.
Webb stated that during their time working together, Kvaratskhelia expressed a consistent interest in the Premier League. "Yeah, we spoke about it. He was always interested," Webb said. When asked which clubs the player followed, Webb listed "Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, the big ones competing in the Champions League." This revelation comes amid reports that Arsenal are keen to sign an elite attacker this summer, with Kvaratskhelia emerging as a dream, albeit ambitious, target for Mikel Arteta's side.
However, any potential move would be fraught with financial and logistical hurdles. PSG, who signed Kvaratskhelia from Napoli just last year, are understood to have no intention of selling one of their standout performers. Reports suggest the French champions would only consider a departure for a world-record transfer fee, a figure that would surpass the current €117 million benchmark set by Enzo Fernandez's move to Chelsea in 2023. Arsenal's interest, therefore, remains in the realm of a complex and costly aspiration rather than an imminent deal.
The Georgian international's profile has risen dramatically since his move to Europe, having been instrumental in Napoli's Serie A title win in 2023 before his transfer to Paris. This season, he has reinforced his status as one of Europe's most exciting forwards with a series of dazzling performances in the Champions League, particularly against English opposition Chelsea and Liverpool. Webb highlighted Kvaratskhelia's evolution into a complete player, praising his exceptional work rate off the ball. "His work rate now, I think, he's one of the highest sort of outputs from the attacking players to come back defensively," Webb noted.
Webb also provided insight into the player's relentless drive for improvement, tracing it back to a specific idol. "All he used to say to me was, 'I want to be as good as Ronaldo. I want to be as good as Ronaldo.' That was his idol," Webb revealed. "So after training, we used to have to try and get him off because he practised every routine. That's just him. He just wants to improve all the time." This mentality has been central to his rapid development from a relative unknown to a global star.
For Arsenal, securing a player of Kvaratskhelia's calibre would represent a monumental statement of intent, adding a world-class, dynamic threat to their forward line as they look to consistently challenge for the Premier League and Champions League. For PSG, retaining him is a priority as they build a team capable of conquering Europe. The coming months will test the seriousness of Arsenal's interest and their willingness to engage in what would be one of the most expensive negotiations in football history.
