Exclusive: David Prutton drops claim on Giorgi Chakvetadze's Watford FC future | OneFootball

Giorgi Chakvetadze has been one of the Hornets' standout performers

David Prutton wouldn't be surprised if the likes of Leicester City and Wolves were to renew their interest in Watford playmaker, Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Once again, it has been a season of mixed fortunes and controversy at Vicarage Road, with the Hornets ending a tumultuous campaign 14th in the Championship, despite being on the coattails of the play-off places earlier in the season.

However, as has become the norm throughout the Pozzo family's tenure in Hertfordshire, a significant drop-off in form that has seen just five victories since the turn of the year saw them dismiss the highly-rated Tom Cleverley after just one full season in charge.

Unsurprisingly, this has led to plenty of uncertainty heading into next season, regardless of the fact that there are still plenty of highly-talented and well-paid individuals among the Watford ranks, with Chakvetadze just one example.

And, with the summer transfer window looming large, the Georgian international is bound to attract plenty of interest once more after a fine individual season which saw him touted with a move to the Premier League earlier in the campaign.

David Prutton issues Giorgi Chakvetadze interest amid previous Leicester City, Wolves interest

Football League World exclusively revealed back in December that the Foxes, Wolves and their divisional rivals, Everton, were all strong admirers of the playmaker, whilst his current employers looked to place a strong valuation on his services ahead of January interest.

It was reported by the Sun that Watford valued the former KAA Gent man - who signed permanently for a reported £2.5m fee in January 2024 - in the region of £20m as then-Wanderers boss, Gary O'Neil, targeted a potential transfer move a month-and-a-half before his dismissal at Molineux before Leicester were dealt a blow in their own January pursuit following Ruud Van Nistelrooy's appointment

After a season which yielded two goals and six assists in 39 Championship appearances prior to a toe injury last month, Prutton exclusively told FLW that he wouldn't be surprised if said clubs renewed their interest, especially after recent goings-on in WD18.

"Wolves and Leicester after Chakvetadze. Yes, as ever, if the money's right then players will be on the move," the Sky Sports pundit began.

"The turnover of players and managers at Watford is there for us all to see, off the back of the news Yesterday (Tuesday, May 6th) that Tom (Cleverley) has moved on.

"It's a strange one because managers almost become kind of, a bit arbitrary when we're discussing this," he explained. "Because, you could have someone else in charge at the start of pre-season and then someone else in charge at the start of the season itself.

Prutton concluded: "If the price is right and the player's itching for a move and it fits all round, I wouldn't be surprised (to see Chakvetadze move on)."

Giorgi Chakvetadze transfer interest could hinge on managerial situations

Whilst the man ESTIMATED to be earning £25,000 per week at Vicarage Road has shown the hallmarks of a top-flight player in waiting, Chakvetadze's immediate future could hinge on the respective managerial situations at Watford and Leicester in particular, as well as whether he has remained on Wolves' radar under Vitor Pereira.

In a side expected to challenge immediately for automatic promotion, the 37-time international could flourish at the King Power and provide strong service in attack, similarly to what Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was able to produce under Enzo Maresca in 2023/24. However, it remains to be seen whether Van Nistelrooy will still be in the post amid talk of him being replaced by one of Lee Carsley, Danny Rohl or Russell Martin.