Is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia the ideal recruit for PSG?

OUI

Let's start from the observation that the Parisian offensive lines seem full. It is true that looking at the Parisian squad made available to Luis Enrique, several weapons are already present in the ranks of Paris Saint-Germain. With the incredible campaign of Ousmane Dembélé, the return from injury of Gonçalo Ramos, the very good start to the season of Bradley Barcola and the rise of Désiré Doué, recruiting a new winger this winter does not appear to be a priority absolute on this winter transfer window. Positive impressions aside, the facts are ultimately quite different. Following the Parisians' improbable drought in the Champions League, certain shortcomings were highlighted. If Luis Enrique had compared this inefficiency in front of goal to a “bad joke”, the truth is that Paris Saint-Germain is cruelly lacking in proven talent on its offensive lines. The arrival of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, one of the best players in Serie A for two years, will correct many problems encountered during the first part of the season. In Paris Saint-Germain's current situation, refusing a player like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is madness.

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In addition to representing an incredible market opportunity – the transfer amount increased from 120 million refused by Naples this summer to 80 million accepted this winter, a gain of 40 million for Paris, the Georgian international has a rare profile, even unprecedented, in the Parisian squad, namely that of an efficient creator-finisher, capable of racking up assists by contributing his dozen goals (30 goals, 29 assists in 107 matches), endowed with great technical abilities. Capable of playing on the left wing, in the center and even on the right, the native of Tbilisi could play different costumes. That of an offensive leader on the left wing who can relieve Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué who are sometimes too inconsistent, at the same time offering them competition to help them progress further. His leadership qualities were clearly evident during the terrible last season where the Georgian, who had three coaches over the season, carried the team almost alone.

But also that of the famous false number 9 which should make Luis Enrique and his system happy. Establishing Kvaratskhelia on the left can also disorganize opposing defenses, primarily focused on containing the Parisian right side with the fierce duo Ousmane Dembélé – Achraf Hakimi since the start of the season. With danger to creation and finishing also present on the left, Kvaratskhelia would free up and relieve the right wing for the French and the Moroccan. As a reminder, over his three seasons at Napoli, the former Dinamo Batumi prodigy distinguished himself by scoring with a header, right foot, left foot and penalty. A fairly vast range and more than adequate efficiency for a player who has long been the second finishing option behind Victor Osimhen. He averaged 85% successful passes per game over three seasons.

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NON

Let's remember first of all, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is an excellent football player, and the Neapolitan fans did not fall in love with him for no reason. But for all that, the Georgian does not really meet a vital need in the Parisian squad, which would have really needed an additional right winger, or a number 9 which Luis Enrique finally likes. So, of course, Kvara can help out in the center or on the right side, but are we having fun recruiting a player at €80 million (or in those waters) so as not to make him play in his position? preferential, namely on the left side? So this is the first problem with this recruitment.

The second is that it does not correspond to the desire to have a real scoring machine, particularly on the European scene. Kvaratskhelia is the link in the game, he takes the initiative with the ball, he is sometimes genius, but is he nevertheless the man who will change everything in the Champions League? In 17 appearances in the competition with Napoli, that's 2 goals (and 5 assists). That is 1 goal more than Barcola, who has 16 appearances and who is harshly judged for these same reasons. PSG would therefore not recruit a big name in the biggest European competition.

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Finally, recruiting Kvaratskhelia clearly calls into question the prospects of Bradley Barcola, and to a lesser degree of Désiré Doué (whose versatility will offer him other positions than the left lane). If PSG wants to highlight its winter recruit, then she will play on the left side, and Barcola will then be able to ruminate a little more on her complicated last weeks, with more limited playing time.