Everton lead race for Rubin Kazan winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Everton are the frontrunners to sign Georgian superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, according to Russian online news outlet Soccer.
They claim that the 20-year-old Rubin Kazan winger is ready to reject a transfer to league rivals Zenit St Petersburg in favour of a move to a ‘top championship’.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are reported to be the ‘main contenders’ for Kvaratskhelia’s signature with the same publication previously detailing talks between his agent and Premier League rivals Leeds United.
Soccer flagged up the issue of him gaining a work permit in England so there could be some red tape for the Blues to unwind if they firm up their interest.
Kvaratskhelia is a player who is gaining serious traction in European football with former Italy international Paolo Maldini, a multiple Champions League winner with AC Milan before taking up his current role of technical director at the club, said to be sounding out a move for him.
The Russian Premier Liga Twitter account has waxed lyrical about his talents, labelling his skills as ‘world-class’.
Priority position
Everton are crying out for a winger so it’s no wonder we are starting to get linked with them by the dozen.
Kvaratskhelia is the latest name and he’s one to get excited about.
He has scored seven goals and registered five assists in 27 games for club and country this season, while a tally of six yellow cards in 23 Russian Premier League outings suggests he is not afraid to get stuck into the action. [WhoScored]
One potential problem, however, is his preference to play from the left-hand side.
23 of his 25 starts in the 2020/21 campaign have come down there and that’s a position Richarlison has firmly nailed down under Ancelotti at Everton.
Of course he needs competition but it perhaps points to Kvaratskhelia being one for the future who will cover for the Brazilian in the meantime.
Ancelotti may have different plans for him when he gets him on the training ground so nothing can be ruled out.
But the pressing need is for a winger who can operate from the right.
In other Everton news, Blues hit with huge injury blow ahead of clash v Man City.
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