Newcastle earmark Kvaratskhelia as top target for next two windows

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Newcastle are said to have made Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia their top target for the next two transfer windows as Eddie Howe joins the race for the highly-rated Georgian, according to reports. The 21-year-old sensation has taken Serie A by storm this season after joining in a £10million deal from Dinamo Batumi. Nobody quite could have predicted just how quickly the tricky attacker would have settled in Italy, however.

Kvaratskhelia has had a hand in 18 goals – scoring eight, assisting 10 – since moving to Naples and his eye-catching performances have already earned him the nickname of Kvaradona in the city that is rich with footballing history.

Premier League clubs seemingly missed the buck when bypassing the chance to sign the player last summer when he was available on the cheap.

Now Napoli are set to demand close to £100m for their superstar as the race for his signature begins to intensify.

According to The Times, Newcastle are hellbent on landing the forward and have made him their priority for the next two windows.

They are not the only clubs in contention though with a whole host of European giants in the mix, although Napoli do not want to sell.

There’s a sense on Tyneside that Kvaradona could prove to be the perfect signing for Howe’s Newcastle project as he bids to drive the Magpies back into the Premier League.

Allan Saint-Maximin’s future looks slightly uncertain even though he firmly remains part of Howe’s plans at St James’ Park.

The Frenchman has had a rough time with injuries but is also no longer one of the first names on the team-sheet due to the increased competition at the club.

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Signing Kvaratskhelia would certainly decrease his chances of minutes although Newcastle are keen to build a squad – not just a strong starting XI.

Howe has already sounded a warning that Newcastle are unlikely to be heavy spenders in every transfer window.

The remark came after director of football Dan Ashworth indicated that continuously spending big is not sustainable following two huge transfer windows following the Saudi-back takeover.

“I think that is unsustainable, Financial Fair Play, I know it is mentioned a lot. That will guarantee that,” Howe said before the World Cup.

“I think you have to be mindful of that fact. That’s where we need to improve, to make sure we don’t have to go to the transfer market and spend that money.

“Can we produce more of our own players? Can we improve everything we deliver?

“Not just transfers. It can be very difficult for all clubs to spend that money on a consistent basis.”

Swedish striker Alexander Isak is still yet to showcase why Newcastle sanctioned a £63m summer deal as he continues to battle a thigh injury.

He was exceptional on his Newcastle debut in the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool earlier in the season before picking up the problem that has plagued his debut Premier League campaign.

Isak and Kvaratskhelia very much align with Newcastle’s newly-devised transfer policy which is centred around going after some of the most established young players in world football.

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