Arsenal’s pursuit of PSG superstar Khvicha Kvaratskheli may have gone cold but Mikel Arteta is in talks to sign a teenager dubbed the ‘next Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’.
With a Premier League title to defend next season, Arteta is looking to strengthen his squad this summer transfer window, with a new left-winger the top priority.
With the futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard up in the air, the Gunners are eyeing a number of high profile forwards, including Kvaratskhelia.
After winning two Serie A titles with Napoli, the 25-year-old moved to Paris for £69million, where he has won back-to-back Champions League finals and firmly established himself as one of the best wingers in world football.
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The Georgia international was pivotal in PSG’s UCL final victory over Arsenal in May, winning the penalty which allowed the French champions to equalise, before going on to triumph in the shootout.
Reports earlier this year suggested that Arsenal were exploring a deal for Kvaratskheli and that he was open to the idea of playing in north London.
Kvaratskheli’s father did however publicly shut down the rumours, while PSG have no intention of letting one of their star players leave.
With a transfer seemingly unlikely, Arsenal are now looking to the future, with BBC Sport reporting that they plan to make an offer for wonderkid Andria Bartishvili who has drawn strong comparisons to Kvaratskheli.
The 17-year-old is contracted to Georgian second-division side FC Kolkheti until the end of 2026, with the Gunners ready to make a pre-contract offer for him.
The attacking midfielder made his senior debut last year just two days after his 16th birthday and is currently on loan at Iberia 1999, helping them to second in the top-flight table.
While very young and inexperienced, Bartishvili has been hailed as a major talent of the future, and is already playing way above his age level, with two appearances for the Georgia U21 side.
Comparisons to fellow countrymen Kvaratskheli are rife, not least from Cristian Zaccardo, the player turned agent who helped Napoli sign the prolific winger.
‘Recently, a lot of talented players have appeared in Georgia, one of such players is Andria Bartishvili,’ the Italian World Cup winger told Sky Calcio last year.
‘This 16-year-old attacking midfielder has the potential to become a great player.
‘I saw Khvicha Kvaratskhelia play two years before he moved to Napoli, he was already a phenomenal player. I met him and then recommended him to Napoli.’
Arsenal may face a fight to acquire Bartishvili’s services, with a number of Italian clubs including Juventus also interested.
The Gunners are set to kick-off the 2026/27 Premier League season against Championship champions Coventry City at the Emirates on August 21, with all fixtures announced on Friday morning.
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