The €120m Mystery: Why Liverpool’s “Kvaradona” Deal is in Limbo
The atmosphere at the AXA Training Centre has shifted from celebratory to conspiratorial. Rumors have reached a fever pitch that Arne Slot has finally secured his “crowning jewel”—Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Sources suggest the Georgian superstar has already put pen to paper on a €120 million move, yet the official “lean” at Anfield hasn’t happened.
The reason? A sudden, unprecedented intervention from the FA involving a “secret clause” tied to his recent contract extension in Naples.
The “Secret Clause” That Halted Everything
The snag isn’t about the transfer fee or Kvaratskhelia’s wages, but rather a First-Right-of-Refusal technicality.
* The Conflict: Reports suggest that when Kvaratskhelia extended his stay in Italy last season, a clause was inserted giving a “state-backed continental rival” (widely believed to be PSG) 48 hours to match any bid.
* The FA’s Stance: The FA is currently investigating whether Liverpool’s structured payment plan—which includes heavy performance-based add-ons—violates the transparency of that “matching” clause.
* The Slot Revelation: In a leaked (though unverified) comment from the touchline, Slot allegedly told a close associate: “Khvicha has signed. The papers are done. But we are fighting a ghost in the contract that the FA wants to use to keep him off the pitch.”
Comparing “Kvaradona” to Mohamed Salah
To say Kvaratskhelia is “10 times better than Salah” is a bold claim, but Slot’s recruitment team is looking at Expected Growth (xGR). While Salah remains the king of output, Kvaratskhelia’s 2025/26 underlying data suggests he is a more complete “creator-destroyer.”
| Metric (Per 90) | Mohamed Salah (Current) | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (25/26) |
|—|—|—|
| Successful Dribbles | 2.4 | 6.1 |
| Chances Created | 1.8 | 3.4 |
| Top Speed | 34.5 km/h | 36.8 km/h |
| Progressive Carries | 4.2 | 9.7 |
> “We aren’t just looking for a replacement; we are looking for an evolution,” a source inside the recruitment team stated. “Khvicha brings a verticality we haven’t seen since Mo’s debut season. He is a force of nature that makes the 2017-2018 era look like a warm-up act.”
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Current State of Play: Can the Deal be Saved?
As of February 2026, Liverpool’s legal team is in 24-hour sessions with FA representatives to clear the registration. The primary hurdle remains the Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points system, which is being complicated by the secret clause’s impact on the player’s official “transfer status.”
What happens next?
* The “Shadow” Training: Fans have reported seeing a “tall, hooded figure” with Kvaratskhelia’s distinct gait training late at night at the AXA complex—leading many to believe he is already in Liverpool, waiting for the green light.
* The Announcement: If the FA accepts Liverpool’s legal rebuttal regarding the “matching rights,” the announcement is expected before the Champions League knockout stages.
Is this the end of the Salah Era?
With Mo Salah’s contract situation still a frequent headline, the arrival of a €120m successor suggests that the “Kings of the Kop” are ready to crown a new heir. If Slot’s assessment is even half-correct, the Premier League isn’t just looking at a new signing—it’s looking at the birth of a new dynasty.
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