Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Arsenal: Could transformative transfer really happen? | OneFootball

Huge move for PSG star would be difficult to pull off, but Gunners need another difference maker

Whatever way this season ends for Arsenal, it is set to be a significant summer.

That is before you even consider the extra toil of a World Cup and it means sporting director Andrea Berta will have plenty on his plate.

Arsenal are understood to be open to first-team sales this summer in order to fund improvements elsewhere.

Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly have struggled for minutes in particular and are two players who could bring in decent fees. There is every chance that Gabriel Jesus is also moved on as he enters the final year of his contract.

Another window of speculation over the futures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli is on the cards too, especially with Arsenal looking to strengthen in wide areas.

The Independent reported this week that the Gunners are exploring the possibility of a move for Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Kvaratskhelia scored three times across two legs against Chelsea in the Champions League last 16

AFP via Getty Images

That would be a transformative signing for Arsenal. Kvaratskhelia at 25 is only just coming into his prime years. He is an elite dribbler and a real difference maker in the final third.

Arsenal would, unsurprisingly, jump at the chance to sign the Georgian if he were available.

He would command a huge transfer fee but Arsenal are in a strong position financially, as football finance expert Kieran Maguire told Standard Sport last month.

"Arsenal have no qualms whatsoever when it comes to compliance with either UEFA's Financial Fair Play or Squad Cost Ratio rules, or the current and the future Premier League rules," Maguire said.

"That's because their wages to revenue ratio is one of the lowest in the Premier League. All in all, a very strong position. Yes they've got a bit of debt, but other than that I see no problems whatsoever.

"They're in a position to be very competitive this summer when the next transfer window opens."

The main obstacle, of course, is that PSG do not want to sell and currently have no intention of entertaining any offers.

While reports indicate that Kvaratskhelia's camp would potentially consider the move, PSG view the winger as one of their key players.

He only signed from Napoli in a £59million deal in January last year, helping the club to win the Champions League within six months of joining, and has a contract through to 2029. In short, it would be an incredibly difficult deal for Arsenal to pull off.

Left wing is probably the area of the pitch where the Gunners could most significantly upgrade their options.

If Arsenal are to take the next step, Kvaratskhelia is the calibre of signing they must be targeting

Trossard had a good run of form earlier this season and Martinelli's record in Europe and in the cups has been impressive.

However, over the last three seasons neither have established themselves as a regular match-winner. Arsenal are now at a level domestically and in Europe where they should be looking for the very best in every position.

Kvaratskhelia certainly is that. He scored in the Champions League final last season. Across 11 appearances in Europe this term, he has seven goals and four assists. Three of those goals came against Chelsea in the last 16.

Arsenal need a genuine difference maker on the left. The focus of the attacks often comes down the right through Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, but teams would not be able to double or triple up on that side if Kvaratskhelia was waiting on the other flank.

For now, the chances of Kvaratskhelia making the move to north London appear slim. PSG's stance is clear and Kvaratskhelia recently spoke about how happy he is in Paris.

If either of those things change, Arsenal will be ready. If the Gunners are to take the next step and become a dominant, trophy-winning force, that is the calibre of signing they must be targeting.