Reports of Liverpool's supposed interest in signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia this month came as something of a surprise.

The Reds are well stocked in Kvaratskhelia's favored left-wing position, with Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz naturals there, and Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota also capable of operating off that flank.

However, every well-ran club is alert to good opportunities in the market, and Kvaratskhelia is apparently viewed as exactly that by the Reds.

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The 23-year-old emerged onto most soccer fans' radars when he played a key role in Napoli winning Serie A during the 2022-23 season. He remains one of the highest-rated wingers in Europe, but wants to move to a new club this month, with Napoli manager Antonio Conte confirming the player has informed him of his desire to leave.

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"He asked the club to be sold, without mincing his words. This is what was said to me, the player has confirmed his decision to me,” Conte said.

“Personally I feel very disappointed, because I spent six months trying to make Kvara feel at the centre of the project, working with him, showing him that we could do something great and also working with the club for six months on the renewal.

“From my point of view, it’s a great disappointment. Today I have to take a step back. I can’t keep those who want to leave tied up in chains. I did that in the summer [when Kvaratskhelia wanted to leave] and had six months to convince all the parties to find a solution.

“I realise that the news has come out of the blue, but now I am taking a step back and it’s right that the club and Kvara’s entourage resolve the situation. And so, he is not available for [Napoli vs] Verona [on Sunday]. We will see what happens. We will lose an important player, but for the meantime, let’s focus on Verona.”

Paris Saint-Germain is said to be the club that is leading the race to sign Kvaratskhelia, but Liverpool could have a trump card in the form of Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Mamardashvili and Kvaratskhelia are teammates at international level with Georgia and, for Kvaratskhelia, transitioning to living in a new country and playing for a new club might be made easier by having a familiar face alongside him; Mamardashvili will move to Merseyside in the summer.

That is perhaps clutching at straws, but soccer players are also people, and there are multiple things that come in to play when players choose which clubs they want to play for.