West Ham have stepped up their pursuit of Rubin Kazan forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is available for just £13 million.
According to Football Insider, West Ham have made a fresh approach for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Rubin Kazan star is one of many forwards the club is targeting in the upcoming January transfer window, with head coach David Moyes desperate to shore up his attacking options.
Rubin Kazan are holding out for a fee of just £13 million for the services of Kvaratskhelia. But West Ham may face stiff competition from Southampton while Everton are also keen on recruiting him as part of Rafa Benitez’s reform in the attacking unit.
A member of the Rubin Kazan side since 2019, Kvaratskhelia is an explosive winger who has made an impression with his pace and dynamism in the final third. He has already featured in 68 competitive matches for the club, scoring eight goals while bagging 16 assists.
With 12 caps for the Georgian national team, the 20-year-old is also considered a beacon of hope for his country’s football. And it appears his stock is set to grow further, with the likes of West Ham and Everton chasing his signature.
The Hammers, in particular, are targeting the young winger as an ideal replacement for Andriy Yarmolenko. The Ukrainian international has had a difficult spell in the Premier League and has been linked with a January exit from London. Genoa are among the clubs interested in his services, with coach Andriy Shevchenko eyeing a potential reunion.
Yarmolenko’s likely departure should pave the way for West Ham to splash the cash on Kvaratskhelia. The 20-year-old can offer some much-needed competition for Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen, but most importantly, he can offer back-up for star striker Michail Antonio even though the youngster is not a like-for-like alternative.
At the age of just 20, Kvaratskhelia has time on his side and the potential to become an asset for his team. It could be an important aspect for West Ham, especially if they end up losing Bowen, who continues to be linked with Liverpool.
Kvaratskhelia is not the only option for Moyes, though, with the West Ham manager also targeting a move for Jonathan David. The Canadian international certainly has more pedigree at the highest level of football, although he is set to cost a fortune, judging by his current form for club and country.