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Struggling to replicate last season’s great form earlier this season, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has slowly but surely started to once again show some glimpses of his talents since Francesco Calzona took over from Walter Mazzarri.

His three goals and one assist in the last two games are a testament to this, which is why he is being linked with big clubs, like Chelsea and Liverpool, courtesy of Ciro Venerato, relayed by Area Napoli.

However, previous comments from the Georgia international’s agent about Manchester City may rule out the Blues from the off.

Let us backtrack a bit, and take you back to the beginning of the January transfer window, when Kvaratskhelia’s agent, Mamuka Jugeli, was interviewed about the player’s next destination, which is when he mentioned Pep Guardiola’s side.

He left out Chelsea and Liverpool, but did say his client would ‘probably agree to play’ for a team like Manchester City, because he ‘wants to succeed’.

Now, considering where the Reds are and their past successes under Jürgen Klopp, it would be fair to say their ambitions match the winger’s, but the Blues are in a trickier situation.

Chelsea have struggled to find any sort of success since Todd Boehly started splashing the cash at Stamford Bridge, and are becoming a slightly less attractive destination for players than their competition.

This is why, when Ciro Venerato mentioned them as one of the clubs taking an interest in Kvaratskhelia, it felt like any attempt from the Blues would be a long shot.

The journalist said: “Kvara’s renewal, at the moment, is still on the high seas: the player wants a raise, which is delaying its arrival, but he will not leave Napoli, with De Laurentiis proposing a mega salary to postpone his transfer to 2025. A release clause could also be inserted for him, as happened with Osimhen. The number 77 is followed by big clubs, such as Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool and PSG.”

Therefore, following the quotes from Jugeli about Manchester City, Liverpool might be a likelier destination than Chelsea at this moment in time.