Liverpool and Arsenal offer contracts to Georgian prospect Bartishvili
Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal have submitted identical contract proposals to 17-year-old Georgian attacking prospect Andria Bartishvili following a scouting trip to Estonia.
Directors from both English clubs travelled to Tallinn to watch the teenager in action for Iberia 1999 during a Uefa Champions League qualifying match.
The highly-rated youth international played 80 minutes as his loan club secured a 3-2 victory over Tallinna FC Flora.
Scouting mission triggers formal approach
Representatives for the youngster and his family are now evaluating the proposals to decide whether his future lies at Anfield or Emirates Stadium.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal have presented identical contract proposals to Bartishvili.
GEO Team
Arsenal’s head of scouting, Mauricio Micheli, was reportedly in attendance and left highly impressed by the forward’s performance.
This pursuit represents a wider strategy from the Merseyside club to aggressively secure Europe’s top emerging talent before they reach peak market value.
The Reds recently committed substantial funds to their youth setup, agreeing a reported £60m deal for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet and spending £34.5m on Osasuna attacker Victor Munoz.
Comparisons to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Excitement is building in Georgia around the versatile attacker, who typically operates as an advanced midfielder but can seamlessly transition to either flank.
His domestic form has drawn inevitable comparisons to Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, widely considered the finest player to emerge from the country in a generation.
The teenage sensation has already registered two goals and three assists in 18 appearances during his current loan spell.
First-team pathway to dictate decision
A definitive choice between the two Premier League title challengers will likely hinge on which club can offer the clearest route to senior football.
The player remains contracted to parent club Kolkheti Poti until the end of 2026, when his current temporary agreement is scheduled to conclude.
With his domestic deal expiring at that juncture, English suitors are positioning themselves early to secure a highly sought-after signature.