Watford FC must brace as Everton and Wolves eye £25k-a-week star | OneFootball

Giorgi Chakvetadze has been linked with a summer move away from Vicarage Road

Watford will have been expecting plenty of interest in Giorgi Chakvetadze this summer, and the rumours are already starting to gather around the Georigan maestro.

As per a Football League World exclusive last month, Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers are both said to be keeping tabs on the 25-year-old, with the pair having long-term interest in the dynamic playmaker.

The Hornets won’t want to part ways with their most impressive performer over the past two seasons, but if their attempt to reach the play-offs isn’t successful, a summer departure looks like the most likely outcome for the Hertfordshire side.

When push comes to shove, the Vicarage Road outfit need to make sure they get well remunerated for a player that has set the pace alight during his time with the club, with his ability there for all to see during his time in a yellow shirt.

Interest in Watford FC star Giorgi Chakvetadze looks set to be renewed this summer

FLW exclusively revealed that Premier League duo Everton and Wolves were still linked with Chakvetadze last month, following on from a report back in December claiming that Leicester City were also interested.

With plenty of clamour in the Georgian, The Sun also reported last year that Watford were looking for a fee in the region of £20 million for their key playmaker, given his exploits in the Championship thus far.

Whatever the case, there is sure to be plenty of interest in Chakvetadze this summer, although the Hornets have insured themselves against losing their player on the cheap, after tying him down to a contract until the summer of 2029, last year.

That move back in September looks to be a wide bit of business by the Pozzo family, with the reported £25,000 weekly wage estimate by Capology making him one of the top five earners at the club.

Only Angelo Ogbonna, Moussa Sissoko, Imran Louza and Tom Ince are estimated to earn more right now, and that financial incentive is likely to see the Hornets have more of a say in any summer transfer business, and be able to hold on for a greater fee if they decide to eventually sell him on.

Giorgi Chakvetadze departure would be massive blow to Watford FC

While they could easily recoup an eight-figure fee for one of their brightest talents, there is no doubting that this Watford side will miss the meandering runs and game-changing impact that Chakvetadze brings to the side when he is in full flow.

After making his loan deal from Gent permanent last year, the slaloming playmaker has caused havoc to all manner of Championship defences, and provides the beating heart for much of what Watford produce in the final third.

Only Middlesbrough’s Finn Azaz can top his 66 key passes in Championship action this season, while no player in the entire second tier can top his return of 157 shot-creating actions from 34 league matches so far.

Not only can he thread the eye of the needle when picking a pass, but his ability to leave a defender for dead and rapidly transition from defence to attack is also unmatched, with 185 progressive carries the highest in the Championship by some distance, with Burnely’s Jaidon Anthony second on 141.

He passes the eye test and also has the numbers to back it up, and while there are only two top flight sides with reported interest right now, that figure could well expand by the time the transfer window opens again later in the year, with his influence on the Hornets unparalleled.

Watford will have a figure in their minds, and if any club matches it he will likely be out the door, regardless of his contract length. Chakvetadze will have ambitions to play as high as possible, and given recent evidence, there is no reason why he can’t make it all the way to the top.