Manchester City continue to monitor €150 million Serie A star tipped for Ballon d’Or success | OneFootball

Etihad officials are continuing to monitor Napoli and Georgia superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, despite his club’s stance on his future, according to a new report.

Manchester City are on the search for new recruits to ensure that Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad continues to challenge on all fronts next season, as they look to win a fourth successive Premier League crown.

As part of that recruitment drive, City are looking for reinforcements in the attacking positions, with the threat of pace somewhat lacking from their current options – as highlighted at various moments of the ongoing season.

While Manchester City may be hoping to secure the services of a new wide forward, top-level forwards available on the market are relatively limited, with a new report this week discussing their interest in one of Europe’s most exciting names.

Despite a tough stance taken by his current club, journalist Jacque Talbot reports that Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is still being monitored by Manchester City, although it is ‘hugely unlikely’ that the Serie A champions will let the player leave this summer.

According to the report published by FootballTransfers, Napoli will ask for close to €150 million in order to let Kvaratskhelia leave the club at this point in his career.

Such is the high regard in which the Georgia international is held by the Naples club that they reportedly view the 22 year-old as a potential future Ballon d’Or winner.

For now, Manchester City will take a back-seat when it comes to the aforementioned winger, and focus their transfer attentions on other areas of their squad, with central midfield a key priority to those concerned.

In the last few days, the Premier League champions have intensified their pursuit of Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic, as they look to bounce back from the expected disappointment in the race for Jude Bellingham – who now seems destined for Real Madrid.

Personal terms are close to being agreed between City and Kovacic’s representatives, with the player understood to be keen on a move north, while a transfer fee negotiated with Chelsea is not expected to be a problem.

Elsewhere, RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol is a key priority for Etihad Stadium transfer chiefs, as Manchester City look to brace themselves for a high-profile exit in their defensive line – most likely to concern Aymeric Laporte.