As they continue to pursue the top adolescent talent worldwide, NEWCASTLE UNITED is nearing completion on a deal for Vakhtang Salia, a young player from Georgia.
At the end of the previous month, Salia, who turned 17, made his debut in the Dinamo Tbilisi first squad, earning him the reputation of being the most exciting young player in Georgian football.
The youth, a Georgia Under-21 international, has already made 27 first-team appearances for Dinamo. He has played as an attacking midfielder and center forward for both club and country.
In the Georgian top division, he has scored three goals in his senior year, and one goal in the UEFA Conference League qualifying.
Although clubs all across Europe have expressed interest in signing him, it is believed that Newcastle has worked out an agreement that will allow them to do so when the transfer window reopens at the beginning of January.
Salia, though, is anticipated to stay with Dinamo Tbilisi for the duration of the current campaign before traveling to England to join Newcastle’s squad for the commencement of preseason training the following summer.
In the next months, Salia is expected to make his senior international debut for Georgia. He aspires to emulate the achievements of Kvhicha Kvaratskelia, another Georgian great who began his career with Dinamo Tbilisi before becoming a huge success at Napoli.
As part of an ongoing initiative to expand the club’s scouting and recruitment network and seek the greatest young talent from all across the world, Newcastle is pursuing Salia.
In the past few years, the Magpies have had varying degrees of success in acquiring overseas talent. Australia international Garang Kuol arrived in September 2022 to much excitement, but he hasn’t been able to establish himself in Newcastle’s first team.
After acquiring Yankuba Minteh from Danish club Odense Boldklub in the summer of 2023, Newcastle enjoyed greater success. Minteh, who was loaned to Feyenoord throughout the previous season, was sold to Brighton at the beginning of this summer. Newcastle made a profit of almost £25 million, which was essential in allowing them to continue operating within the confines of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability standards.
