West Ham United could have signed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for €20m but paid €35m for Nikola Vlasic instead | OneFootball

West Ham United and Newcastle United were both keen on signing Paris Saint-Germain attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

The Georgian was available for €20 million in 2021, but the Hammers decided to spend €35m on Nikola Vlasic, then at CSKA Moscow.

However, the Croatian lasted just one season at the London Stadium club and is regarded as a West Ham flop.

On the other hand, Newcastle, under new owners at the time, decided against making a bid for him in 2022, and it is a decision they regret, according to The Telegraph.

Kvaratskhelia had had his Rubin Kazan contract suspended at the time, moving to Dinamo Batumi immediately before joining Napoli three months later in July 2022 for €10m.

He has since emerged as the world’s best winger and could pick up another Champions League trophy tonight.

The 25-year-old spent two-and-a-half seasons in Napoli before moving to PSG in January 2025 for €80m.

Kvaratskhelia has proven his quality time and again and West Ham could have had better fortunes on and off the pitch with him in their ranks.

Signing Vlasic over him is a decision the Hammers will keep regretting as the Croatian only bagged one goal in 31 games for them before leaving on loan for Torino.

They saw his Premier League experience from his time at Everton as a key factor, with Kvaratskhelia plying his trade in Russia at the time.

Newcastle will also be rueing their decision not to bid for the PSG star. He could have made a huge difference in their team had he joined them at the time.

Leeds United were also credited with an interest in Kvaratskhelia in 2022 alongside West Ham, but nothing concrete emerged.

Tottenham were interested in him in 2021 and there were several video calls.

However, Spurs baulked at Rubin’s €20m asking price and instead proposed a loan deal.