Liverpool had a first-hand experience of how tricky it can be to face off against PSG winger Khivcha Kvaratskhelia in the first leg of their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash.
Even though the Reds went away with a 1-0 win, thanks to Harvey Elliott’s goal, it wasn’t easy sailing for the Premier League leaders at all.
The Georgian winger was a menacing figure for the Reds backline.
He tested Alisson with four shots and created a few chances.
In fact, he also breached the Liverpool backline to score a nice goal in the first goal, only for it to be disallowed by VAR.
Kvaratskhelia’s performance has been followed by a bombshell by Italian expert Gianluca di Marzio on what could’ve been.
Di Marzio has reported that Liverpool had actually tabled a huge €100 million (£84 million) offer to sign Kvaratskhelia in the final days of the 2024 summer window.
He wrote on his website: “In the final days of the summer transfer window, the Reds put a monstrous offer on the table: around 100 million euros to buy the Georgian. The English club, however, had the intention of leaving the 2001-born player on loan to Napoli for a year.
“The Azzurri did not consider the solution and decided to refuse the rich offer. Khvicha Kvaratskelia thus remained at Napoli, living almost six months with Antonio Conte on the bench.”
Liverpool aimed to use the same tactics with the potential Kvaratskhelia signing as they did with signing his national teammate Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia.
But Napoli were not swooned like Valencia as they were desperate to retain Kvaratskhelia’s services to bolster their 2024/25 Serie A title charge.
Ironically, the Gil Azzurri were forced to offload the winger in the 2025 winter window.
PSG reportedly paid a £58.4 million fee (including add-ons) for the 24-year-old winger.
The Ligue 1 side, however, are rumoured to be paying the winger a whopping £13.5 million-a-year wages.
Liverpool are unlikely to have offered him such a huge sum had a deal with Napoli been agreed.
The Reds, however, are befitting of Cody Gakpo impressing in the left wing position as the Dutchman has 21 goal contributions (16 goals, five assists) to empower their Premier League title charge.
