The Georgian attacking talent Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has made remarkable progress in recent seasons, with Arsenal now seeking to acquire another promising player from the same country following his breakthrough at Paris Saint-Germain.
The London club are reportedly attempting to sign Andria Bartishvili, a young Georgian forward who has inevitably drawn comparisons to his compatriot Kvaratskhelia. The PSG star is among the leading candidates for football’s highest individual honour after another victorious campaign in France.
One of those triumphs came against Arsenal, with Luis Enrique’s side clinching back-to-back Champions League trophies earlier this year. While the Gunners have previously explored the possibility of signing Kvaratskhelia, they were informed he was unavailable and the player himself expressed contentment in the French capital.
Consequently, Arsenal appear to be targeting Bartishvili as an alternative, with reports indicating they have submitted a pre-contractual offer for the Georgia under-21 international.
The youngster is contracted to FC Kolkheti in his homeland but is currently spending time on loan at Iberia 1999, with his existing deal concluding at the season’s end.
The north London side may face competition for his signature, as Juventus and Liverpool are said to harbour similar interest while Bartishvili continues to consider his next move.
Sporting director Andrea Berta, credited with discovering Kvaratskhelia, is spearheading this pursuit, marking another significant investment in youth talent. The club has already secured Manchester United pair James Scanlon and Habeeb Ogunneye this transfer window.
Arsenal have faced scrutiny regarding their ability to develop young players, despite successful first-team transitions for Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman.
All three remain part of the club’s long-term vision, though questions persist over Ethan Nwaneri’s future despite the club recently deciding a temporary move away would be preferable to a permanent exit.
Nwaneri is anticipated to join the list of players departing on loan this summer. Midfield competition has intensified following the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, though his injury problems meant Nwaneri featured in the matchday squad for the Coventry City fixture after being omitted from the Community Shield victory against Manchester City.
Gabriel Martinelli was also unavailable the previous weekend and remained absent from the squad for their opening Premier League match of the campaign on Friday evening.
Summer signing Christos Tzolis made an encouraging impression in Martinelli’s role during the 3-0 success at Emirates Stadium, with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz finding the net.