Transfer News: Tottenham interested in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but is he a better alternative to Adama Traore?

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Rubin Kazan star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The North Londoners are in the market for an attacker and have identified the Georgian as one of the options. Wolverhampton Wanderers star Adama Traore is the other name on the club’s shortlist.

Unlike Traore, Kvaratskhelia is a relatively unknown player who has spent his career playing in Georgia and Russia. A left-winger who can play on the other flank and centrally, he is, at 20 years of age, an intriguing prospect.

He joined Rubin Kazan in 2019 and has since made 57 appearances for the Russian outfit, scoring eight goals and assisting 13 more. However, the numbers do not do his abilities justice and temper the performances he showcases on the pitch.

Kvaratskhelia is a two-time winner of the Russian Premier League Best Young Player, having won it for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. He was also named the Georgian Player of the Year in 2020. The youngster can dribble and cuts in often from the wing. This helps him make space to strike long shots cleanly and could provide Spurs with another potential threat in attack.

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Kvaratskhelia outscored and out-assisted Traore last season and the Spurs duo of Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura. He also averaged 2.2 shots per game compared to the 0.7 and 0.6 that the Spurs duo put up, respectively. If anything, the 20-year-old will provide a more direct threat than either Spurs star.

Both Kvaratskhelia and Traore would be a handy addition to Tottenham. However, as things stand, the Spaniard is the more refined player and a better choice to perform off the bat.

Traore not only makes more dribbles per match than his Georgian counterpart but is also a more dominant force in the air while also averaging more key passes per 90 minutes. The Wolves star is adept at making more crosses and does not lose possession as much as Kvaratskhelia. Add to it his physicality, and it is clear who can hold their own in the Premier League.

Both players would add something new to a Spurs side that is too reliant on Son Heung-Min in Harry Kane’s absence. Bringing in another attacker is imperative given the lack of bite they possess in attack. While Kvaratskhelia could eventually come good, Spurs have already signed one prospect in Bryan Gil this summer. They are better off bringing in a player who can perform off the bat while Gil is made ready for the role.

As things stand, Traore represents a better option, and Spurs will do well to lands him. Not only is Nuno Espirito Santo familiar with the player’s abilities, but he could also thrive playing alongside better teammates in north London. An experienced Premier League player, Traore appears to have reached his zenith at the Molineux and could do with a new challenge. Whether that will be at Tottenham remains to be seen.