Interesting update on NUFC's Vakhtang Salia after signing of 17-year-old was confirmed on Tuesday

 · October 30 2024, 13:00
Interesting update on NUFC's Vakhtang Salia after signing of 17-year-old was confirmed on Tuesday
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On Tuesday afternoon Newcastle United confirmed that they had signed Georgian wonderkid Vakhtang Salia who will join the club in the summer.

Newcastle had been in talks over a deal for Salia for a while and last month it was reported that Newcastle had won the race despite interest from several top clubs.

The deal got wrapped up and announced on Tuesday and it was confirmed that the 17-year-old who is already being compared to Georgia's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will join Newcastle on his 18th birthday in August 2025.

Meanwhile, Salia will continue to play for Dinamo Tblisi for whom he has already made 32 senior appearances.

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Salia could be heading straight into the first team

Vakhtang Salia has been signed for the first team

You'd be forgiven for thinking, given his age, that Salia was set to join the academy as another 'project player', however The Chronicle believes that he's actually been bought to be put into the first team.

It makes sense when you realise that Academy Director Steve Harper, who would always make a comment on the signing of a new academy player, had no quotes in the official press release on the Newcastle website.

Instead it was down to Paul Mitchell to provide the update while The Chronicle says that Salia was scouted by Steve Nickson who was tasked with finding top talent who can flourish at senior level.

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Salia will be competing with Anthony Gordon for a starting place

We're likely to see Vakhtang Salia in the pre-season squad at least in the summer, then, and a decision will be made then as to whether or not he goes into the first team or spends time in the academy first.

With 32 senior appearances for Tblisi, which includes two appearances and one goal in the Champions League qualifying stages, we expect he will feel ready to step up for the first-team.

Primarily a left winger, Salia will have a big fight on his hands to get into the first team ahead of Anthony Gordon but if he's genuinely perceived to be the next Kvaratskhelia then we're sure he'll give Gordon a decent run for his money.

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