Arsenal want Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as their left-wing priority, but Paris Saint Germain have already made their position clear. They have declared him not for sale ahead of the Champions League final, and Fabrizio Romano says Kvaratskhelia is very happy at PSG and wants to stay.

Why Arsenal like him

The attraction is easy to see from the numbers. Kvaratskhelia has 10 goals and 6 assists in 15 Champions League appearances this season, which is a strong enough return to place him near the top of any summer shortlist.

He is also the first player in Champions League history to record a goal contribution in seven consecutive knockout games. That matters because it is not just volume, it is output in the matches that usually decide a European run.

His assist against Bayern München in the semi-final, the one that set up Ousmane Dembele's goal, fits the same pattern. Steven Gerrard has gone as far as calling him the best winger in the world right now, saying, "This guy does the lot. He works hard, he tackles, he fights. He can create, he can score."

That is the football case Arsenal are buying into. Kvaratskhelia is not being chased on reputation alone, because the Champions League data backs up the eye test.

Why this is a difficult deal

The problem is the selling club, not the player profile. PSG have said no sale ahead of the final, and Romano's reporting makes the position sound even firmer, with Kvaratskhelia described as settled and keen to stay.

That does not close the door completely, but it does change the shape of the story. Arsenal can want him as much as they like, yet a target who has only been at Paris for around 15 months and is already producing at this level is exactly the sort of player a club like PSG are likely to protect.

There is also the simple point that Arsenal are not chasing only one position. The brief says they are also targeting a central midfielder and a full-back for next season, while their Champions League run has banked them £122m. That gives them room to move, but it does not make Kvaratskhelia easy to pry away.

For now, this looks more like a test of persistence than a straightforward transfer chase. Arsenal's interest is real, and the player clearly has the numbers to justify it, but PSG's stance means this is the kind of deal that depends on a change of mood in Paris, not just ambition in north London.

FAQ

Will Arsenal be able to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia this summer?

The brief says Arsenal want Kvaratskhelia as their left-wing priority, but Paris Saint Germain have declared him not for sale. Fabrizio Romano also says he is very happy at PSG and wants to stay. That makes it a difficult pursuit, not a deal that looks close.

Why do Arsenal want Khvicha Kvaratskhelia so badly?

His Champions League numbers explain the interest. Kvaratskhelia has 10 goals and 6 assists in 15 appearances, and he is the first player in Champions League history to record a goal contribution in seven consecutive knockout games. He also set up Ousmane Dembele’s goal against Bayern München in the semi-final.

How good has Khvicha Kvaratskhelia been in the Champions League this season?

He has 10 goals and 6 assists in 15 Champions League appearances this season. He is also the first player in Champions League history to record a goal contribution in seven consecutive knockout games, which underlines why he is being treated as a premium left-wing target.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →