Real Madrid target admits he's keen on Newcastle switch, wants to join 'miracle player' on Tyneside

Newcastle United pulled off quite the coup recently when beating Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal and co to one of European football’s rising talents.

TBR can confirm that Premier League champions Man City were keen on Vakhtang Salia. City were even leading the chase at one point.

Reigning European champions Real Madrid were in the mix too. As were, amongst others, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.

Salia – Newcastle will bring him to St James’ Park when he turns 18 in 2025 – is clearly a player of considerable promise and potential.

Saba Kharebashvili, a team mate and close friend of his at Dinamo Tbilisi, certainly thinks so. In fact, Kharebashvili would like to follow in Salia’s footsteps at some point down the line, in the hope that Newcastle have another Georgian wonderkid on their radar.

Saba Kharebashvili keen to join Vakhtang Salia at Newcastle United

“There are a lot of talented players in the Dynamo academy,” Kharebashvili tells La Gazzetta. “And it’s nice that they have the opportunity to play in a big team. For example, Vakhtang Salia, who was recently sold to Newcastle.

“Salia and I have been together since childhood. He is a miracle person and a miracle player. He has all the [qualities] that to play in the Premier League. When my best friend goes to Newcastle, it [gives me] a great motivation to do the same.

“I believe and he is motivated to score goals and establish himself.”

Salia may be only 17 but he is one of the first names on the Dinamo Tbilisi team sheet these days. He’s even scored six times across his 28 league appearances this season. And, while he may be a centre-forward by trade, Salia has earned comparisons with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard due to his impressive passing range and technical qualities.

Kharebashvili, meanwhile, sees himself more as a Joshua Kimmich type. Like the Bayern Munich stalwart, Kharebashvili is comfortably playing both at full-back and in midfield.

“Football has developed a lot and [the coaches] pay a lot of attention to physical growth,” he adds. “Many players at my age are already playing at a high level. I try to train a lot and develop physically every day.

“I feel most comfortable in the left back position, and my favourite player is [Real Madrid legend] Marcelo. But I also like to play as a supporting midfielder.”

Real Madrid and Barcelona are keen on Dinamo Tbilisi starlet

La Gazzetta reports that, like Salia, Kharebashvili has caught the eye of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. While opening the door to Newcastle, the youngest debutant in UEFA competition admits he would prefer Real over Barca.

And Dinamo Tbilisi coach Ferdinand Feldhofer believes there are no limits to how high Kharebashvili can fly.

“It’s amazing how confident and experienced he plays,” Feldhofer says. “I’ve never seen a player play like that at his age. His attitude is amazing.

“Saba wants to improve and always listens carefully to what we have to say. He can also read every game situation, as experienced players do.  For me, as a coach, it is most important that Saba can do his job exactly like that I tell him.

“If he is healthy and continues to develop like this, I am sure he will have a great career in the top five leagues of Europe.”