Football League World
·24 December 2024
Football League World
·24 December 2024
FLW's Watford fan pundit is desperate to see Giorgi Chakvetadze remain at Vicarage Road beyond January
Watford have been encouraged to avoid losing Giorgi Chakvetadze in the upcoming January transfer window, with offers seemingly poised to arrive for the gifted Georgian playmaker.
It's shaping up to be a wholly positive campaign on the pitch at Vicarage Road, as Watford have established themselves as something of a surprise package.
Tom Cleverley's side had been tipped to be in mid-table for the third season running following last term's 15th-placed finish or even wind up struggling at the wrong end of the division, though neither of those scenarios feel like they're going to play out as we now approach the mid-way point.
Watford are up in eighth and just two points shy of sixth-placed Middlesbrough - though they've got a game in hand over the Teessiders. The race for the play-offs is starting to shape up and the Hornets are definitely in it, which is in no small part due to Chakvetadze.
The 25-year-old has come into his own this season, proving himself as one of the finest playmakers at second-tier level.
Chakvetadze ranks right up there among the most creative players in the division by measure of his underlying numbers, despite posting a modest return of one goal and four assists from 21 appearances.
For those who have seen the talented midfielder in action this term, it should really come as no surprise that he's earned his fair share of admirers in the top-flight.
As exclusively revealed by Football League World last week, lowly Premier League duo Everton and Leicester City are both looking at Chakvetadze. Meanwhile, Wolves were first credited with an interest in his services by The Sun back in October, and it's understood they have retained their admiration.
The Sun previously reported that Watford have set a £20 million asking price for Chakvetadze, who penned a fresh five-year contract only in September.
Chakvetadze's deal has given Watford the license to adopt a hardball stance when it comes to receiving offers for the midfield star, and Football League World has also been informed that their high price tag could put Premier League suitors off a move.
However, you would expect further clubs to join the chasing pack for Chakvetadze in the coming weeks and every player has a price, which will no doubt worry supporters heading into January.
We asked our resident Hornets fan pundit, Justin Beattie, to name one player at the club who is invaluable and cannot be sold at any cost next month.
"That player would be Chakvetadze," Justin explained to Football League World.
"He's a wonderful player to watch, absolutely brilliant on the ball. I think if he had the final killer pass or was able to score after making the runs he makes and beating the players he beats, he wouldn't be at Watford because he would be the complete player that would be sought after by most Premier League teams.
"So it's really important we don't lose Chakvetadze. Obviously he's been with us for a season and a half, and this season he's really proved his worth.
"I think the sky is the limit for him, I would be really surprised if he doesn't play at a much higher level further on in his career."