Khvicha Kvaratskhelia breaks silence on transfer stand-off as Liverpool learns decision date

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has confirmed he will make a decision on his future following Euro 2024, despite Napoli already ruling out a move.

The forward starred as Georgia shocked Portugal in their final group game in Germany to book a place in the knockout stages of the tournament. They will face Spain on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals, although they will be clear underdogs.

Kvaratskhelia’s performance on Wednesday drew more attention to his future at Napoli, with plenty of speculation that he might be on the move this summer. According to TBR Football, Liverpool is among a host of clubs to have enquired about the 23-year-old this summer.

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What’s more, both his father and agent have expressed a desire for him to leave Napoli this summer and join a club in the Champions League, which would play into the Reds’ hands. His current club though has fired back at those claims in no uncertain terms.

"In reference to the statements of Kvaratskhelia's agent, Mamuka Jugeli, and his father Badri, Calcio Napoli reiterates that the player has a contract for another three years with the club. Kvaratskhelia is not on the market,” Napoli said in a statement.

"It is not the agents or fathers who decide the future of a player under contract with Napoli but the Calcio Napoli club!!! End of the story.”

New Napoli boss Antonio Conte echoed that statement this week, saying: “There are no doubts. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stays here and he will play for Napoli. There are no doubts, it’s all clear. Kvara will stay here with us.”

Speaking ahead of his country’s meeting with Spain though, Kvaratskhelia seemingly left the door open on his future, insisting that he is yet to make a decision.

“I respect [new Napoli boss Antonio] Conte, he’s one of the best managers,” he said (via The Standard). “I respect also Napoli, I love Napoli.

“I will decide my future after the Euros. Now I’m focused on the game vs Spain.”

Liverpool.com says: This could get very messy. By the sounds of it, Kvaratskhelia wants to leave Napoli, and the Italian club is not going to budge. They’ve often taken a hardline stance in the past with players, so the Georgian might find it hard to get his way.

Whether Liverpool will make any sort of move remains to be seen, although the Reds generally don’t like to get embroiled in these sorts of sagas. It might be best to look elsewhere.