West Ham have already turned down the chance to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, now they can’t afford to make the same mistake again with his younger brother.
Especially as Tornike Kvaratskhelia looks the ideal replacement for Crysencio Summerville having burst on the scene with his debut display in a Europa Conference League qualifier this week.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a commentator’s nightmare – but it has also become a household name in the last few years.
Agonisingly, West Ham could – and clearly should – have signed the superstar Georgian winger when they had the chance for just £13m back in January 2022.
West Ham must not repeat Kvaratskhelia mistake with his brother
An exclusive report back in December 2021, ahead of the January window that season, claimed West Ham and Everton were fighting to sign Kvaratskhelia from Russian side Rubin Kazan.
Kvaratskhelia was nicknamed the ‘dazzling tiny dancer’ in Russia and went on to earn an even more illustrious moniker when he joined Napoli as he was crowned ‘Kvaradona’ upon leading the Italian side to their first Serie A title for decades.
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He was sold for over £75m to PSG where he has continued to dazzle and lift silverware.
Back in 2022, it was reported West Ham and Everton were in a straight shootout to sign Kvaratskhelia.
It was reported that the Hammers were quoted as little as £13m to seal a deal but ‘doubts over his physicality’ put paid to a move to east London.
That now looks like one of West Ham’s worst ever transfer calls – and there have been plenty to choose from.
So the Hammers must learn their lesson and not repeat their Kvaratskhelia mistake with his brother emerging as the ideal heir to Summerville.
With Nils Koppen heading up recruitment, West Ham – by the Belgian’s own dictat – will be scouring lesser known leagues and teams for young talent before they are on the radars of elite clubs.
Hammers must pounce to replace Summerville with Tornike Kvaratskhelia
That has always been Koppen’s self-confessed modus operandi for recruitment.
So he could do a lot worse than send some of West Ham’s summer budget the way of Dinamo Tbilisi after Kvaratskhelia’s brother stunned by looking a carbon copy of him on his senior debut.
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Tornike Kvaratskhelia plays just like his more famous brother and has wowed with his debut display aged just 16 as he helped Dinamo beat FK Žalgiris 3-0 in the second round of Conference League qualification.
Just take a moment to witness the emergence of the next Kvaratskhelia in the video below.
It is important to stress West Ham have not been linked with the teen winger, who – like his brother and Summerville – plays off the left.
But they should be pro-actively exploring the chance to sign him now while they have the chance.
Because based on the power, pace, skill and maturity he displayed in his debut performance, it won’t be long until Europe’s big sharks start circling Kvaratskhelia.
Koppen will undoubtedly be aware of Tornike – who could have a season bedding in at Championship level, which on this evidence he would take by storm – before hopefully stepping up to the Premier League stage with West Ham.
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