The exciting talent Newcastle look set to sign in 2025 - Introducing Vakhtang Salia

News broke on Tuesday night that Newcastle United have almost agreed a deal with Dinamo Tbilisi for the signing of 17-year-old hot prospect Vakhtang Salia.

According to Foot Mercato journalist Josue Casse, the player appears to be set for a move to Tyneside in what could be Paul Mitchell’s first foray into the overseas market of hidden gems.

The expected deal will see the youngster stay with the 19-times Erovnuli Liga champions for the remainder of the season before joining up with United next summer.

Salia - a forward who can play up or out wide - made his debut as a 16-year-old in November 2023 and has scored three goals (+ two assists) in twenty-two appearances. He's also a Georgian U21 international and got his first cap in June, again at the age of 16.

He scored the only goal in a tight victory over Torpedo Kutaisi in March 2024, and he has found the net in European competition too, scoring against FK Mornar in the Europa Conference League First Qualifying round in July. He wears the number seven, and he picked up three bookings last season in over 1500 minutes for his club.

Standing at 1.81m (5’ 11”) the teenager is considered an outside left forward who has ‘good ball striking ability’. Via Magpie Media, who snagged an interview with Mikha Gabechava, Tbilisi’s former Head of Scouting revealed that Salia is a player who is ideally suited for a front foot, high pressing game that Eddie Howe wants to play. He is considered a player who ‘never stops out of possession’ and ‘possess’ powerful shooting with either foot with a striker’s instinct.’ He also comments that Salia is a technically gifted generational talent. Here's a few clips of him in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmReRjeDdJo

TransferMarkt has the teenager valued at €300k, although any details as to what United are in line to pay for the teenager are very scarce on the ground.

In April, reported interest in him was high with the 'big six', Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich and Dortmund all said to have sent scouts to watch him. Clubs have been keen to scout the next Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a player who many passed on before Napoli picked him up for just €10million in July 2022, who has gone on to impress for the Georgian National team at Euro 2024 and would cost upwards of €60million today.

Whilst such comparisons are easy to make, the potential signing of Vakhtang Salia is clearly one for the future, and it would be silly to heap pressure on him comparing him to one of the best outside forwards in Europe. He will almost certainly be loaned out if he does sign and will very much be a signing in the mould of Yankuba Minteh.

If he does sign for the club, he will become the third Georgian to do so following Temur Ketsbaia and Zurab Khizanishvili.