Positive Kvaratskhelia agent meeting with Napoli over contract

epa11691235 Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates scoring the 0-2 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli, in Milan, Italy, 29 October 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

There are reports of ‘encouraging signs’ from the meeting between Napoli and the agent of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia over a massive new contract.

The Georgia international is still one of the lowest earners at the club on the same deal he started with when signing as a relative unknown from Dinamo Batumi in the summer of 2022.

That agreement runs to June 2027 and is worth only €1.3m per season net.

The issue up for debate is how much to raise his salary and even more importantly the figure for the release clause.

Kvaratskhelia edging towards Napoli deal

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of SSC Napoli looks on during the Serie A TIM match between US Sassuolo and SSC Napoli – Serie A TIM at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on February 28, 2024 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Calciomercato.com and more, today’s meeting was a positive one and there will be further encounters with director of sport Giovanni Manna over the next few days.

The wages on the table are worth €5m plus add-ons, whereas Kvaratskhelia is reportedly asking for €8m per season.

The release clause would be set at a minimum of €100m, similar to the one in Victor Osimhen’s contract signed in December 2023.

If there is no agreement, then a sale would seem fairly inevitable on the horizon, though he is not in as much of a rush as Osimhen was to move on from Napoli.