Newcastle make staggering club-record bid for Napoli forward

Premier League side Newcastle reportedly made a club-record bid of £82 million to sign Napoli talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as they prepare for their first UEFA Champions League campaign since 2003.

The Magpies ended a 20-year wait for a return to the European elite after finishing fourth in the 2022/23 Premier League season to secure a place in the UCL group stages next season and have reportedly set about preparing for life with the big boys after registering interest in one of Europe’s most heralded players currently.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has already stated the need to improve the squad ahead of their European campaign to avoid getting left behind by rivals, and it appears his pleas have not fallen on deaf ears.

According to reports from the Italian news site, Corriere dello Sport, Newcastle have made Kvaratskhelia their priority signing this summer and are willing to break their transfer record to get a deal done.

Kvaratskhelia could become Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever, eclipsing the £60 million paid to Real Sociedad for Swedish striker Alexander Isak.

A huge fee for the Georgian international could still prove to be a wise investment, as there is little doubt about Kvaratskhelia’s quality after a number of incredible displays earned him the Serie A Player of the Season for the just concluded 2022/23 campaign.

The winger scored 12 goals and led the league in assists with 10 in 34 matches as he helped Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Newcastle’s attempts to sign Kvaratskhelia could run into some problems as the forward is considered an untouchable by club president Aurelio de Laurentiis and a fee far above what the Magpies have reportedly offered for the Georgian will be required to tempt Napoli to sanction a sale.