Report: Arsenal join Leeds and Tottenham in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia race

Arsenal have entered the race for Georgia international forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, according to Area Napoli.

The Gunners could be set for some major changes in attack at the end of the season.

Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are both out of contract and look likely to leave in summer.

Nicolas Pepe’s future at the Emirates is also uncertain after falling out of starting contention at Arsenal.

In addition, there have been rumours suggesting Mikel Arteta could turn Gabriel Martinelli into a centre-forward.

This would mean Arsenal would have to look for a new left-sided attacker – that is Kvaratskhelia’s main position.

Sport Witness has covered and translated Area Napoli’s report.

They claim Arsenal are following Kvaratskhelia ‘with interest’ and have collected information on him over the last few months.

The report even claims the Gunners would have made an attempt to recruit him this month if the Premier League had allowed it.

FIFA opened a window for players to leave both Russia and Ukraine as a result of the conflict.

However, the Premier League have blocked such deals, fearing it would ‘undermine the integrity’ of the competition.

Kvaratskhelia moved on loan to Dinamo Butami in his homeland in March on a deal until the summer.

“Crystal-clear talent”

Napoli are hoping to land the 21-year-old, but Arsenal are apparently causing ‘interference’ with their interest.

The Italian outlet claims the Partenopei are hoping to sign Kvaratskhelia for a total 15m euro (around £12.5million).

Kvaratskhelia has also been linked with Leeds United, Tottenham and AC Milan in recent months.

Last summer, Calciomercato deemed him a ‘crystal-clear talent ready for the big leap’ to a top club.

They also said he was ‘one of the most interesting and talked-about youngsters right now’.

Kvaratskhelia can play on both flanks and centrally, and is ‘impressive in one-on-ones’.

And former Russia U18 coach Denis Bushuev claimed: “He is from the same galaxy of players as Ribery or Robben.

“He could play in the top five clubs in the Bundesliga – he has crazy technique.”