Another summer, another rumor mill churning out names linked to Arsenal. This time, it's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian winger currently plying his trade with PSG. Reports are flying that the Gunners are "exploring an approach," which, let's be honest, is football speak for "we've probably asked his agent if he fancies London." After a season where Arsenal pushed Manchester City right to the wire, finishing second in the Premier League with 89 points, the appetite for a big-name signing is definitely there.
Here's the thing: Kvaratskhelia just landed in Paris last summer in a deal reportedly worth around €60 million from Napoli. He scored 10 goals and assisted another 12 across all competitions for PSG in his debut season, including a vital late winner against Lyon in April. That's not the kind of player PSG lets go of easily, especially not after just one year and with Kylian Mbappé heading for Real Madrid. PSG isn't exactly short on cash, and they're in the middle of a significant rebuild. Pulling Kvaratskhelia out of that situation feels like a fantasy.
Let's talk money. Arsenal spent over £200 million last summer, bringing in Declan Rice for a club-record £105 million, Kai Havertz for £65 million, and Jurrien Timber for £34 million. While they've got Champions League football again, the club's financial fair play situation isn't endlessly elastic. Kvaratskhelia's market value, according to Transfermarkt, is still around €80 million, and PSG would surely demand more than they paid for him, likely north of €100 million given his performance and contract situation. He's tied down until 2028.
That kind of outlay, after the Rice deal and with other areas potentially needing strengthening – a new striker, maybe a backup left-back – just doesn't compute for Arsenal right now. They've been smart with their recent business, focusing on players who fit Mikel Arteta's system and have resale value. Kvaratskhelia is a brilliant talent, no doubt. His dribbling ability and directness on the wing are electric, as Napoli fans saw when he bagged 12 goals and 10 assists in Serie A during their 2022-23 title-winning campaign. But the price tag, and PSG's reluctance, make this a non-starter.
Look, Arsenal needs a clinical forward, someone who can consistently hit 20+ league goals. Gabriel Jesus is a fantastic player, but his 4 goals in 27 Premier League appearances last season just isn't enough for a title contender. Eddie Nketiah also only managed 5 league goals in 27 games. Viktor Gyökeres at Sporting CP, with 29 goals in 33 Primeira Liga games, or even someone like Alexander Isak from Newcastle, would be a more logical target, albeit expensive.
The Gunners have a strong core. Bukayo Saka on the right wing is irreplaceable, netting 16 goals and 9 assists in all competitions last season. Leandro Trossard, with his 12 goals and 2 assists in the Premier League, proved a more than capable option on the left. Kvaratskhelia would be an upgrade, sure, but not one that makes financial sense when other positions are more pressing. The club needs to be shrewd, not splashy for the sake of it.
Bold prediction: Arsenal signs a striker this summer for over £70 million, but it won't be Kvaratskhelia.