Alious
Fresh off their triumphant return to the Premier League, Sunderland are setting their sights on a new calibre of talent—one that would have been out of reach without the prestige and financial uplift that top-flight promotion brings. Among their bold new targets is Otar Kiteishvili, the diminutive yet dazzling playmaker from Sturm Graz, who has just been crowned Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Year for a second consecutive season.
Kiteishvili, who boasts 13 goals and five assists in the latest campaign, has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi for his low centre of gravity, technical brilliance, and composure in front of goal. His exploits helped Sturm Graz retain their league title and solidify the 29-year-old’s reputation as one of Europe’s most underrated creative forces.
Reports from Austrian outlet *Krone* suggest that Sunderland, along with fellow promoted clubs Burnley and Leeds United, have expressed interest in luring the Georgian international to English football this summer. With speculation swirling around the possible departure of rising star Jobe Bellingham—who recently visited Eintracht Frankfurt and remains on Borussia Dortmund’s radar—the Black Cats may view Kiteishvili as an ideal replacement in the attacking midfield role.
**Sturm Graz Responds to Growing Transfer Buzz**
Despite the mounting interest, Sturm Graz’s leadership has been quick to push back against suggestions that Kiteishvili could soon be on the move. Michael Parensen, the club’s managing director for sport, acknowledged the attention his star player is attracting but made it clear that a transfer is far from imminent.
“We’re still a long way from letting him go,” Parensen told *Krone Zeitung*. “It’s understandable that at 29, after being voted Player of the Season two years running, he might consider his options. But right now, we’re planning with Otar very firmly in our squad.”
Kiteishvili signed a contract extension as recently as January, committing his future to Sturm Graz until 2027. The club has consistently emphasized his importance to the team’s structure, with sporting director Andreas Schicker describing him as a “difference-maker” and a “central axis leader.”
**Sunderland Face Uphill Battle to Land Elite Midfield Talent**
While Sunderland’s promotion opens doors to higher-tier signings, prying Kiteishvili away from a Champions League-bound team in the prime of his career won’t be easy. Sturm Graz have both the desire and contractual leverage to retain their midfield talisman. For Kiteishvili, the lure of European football and his pivotal role at the Austrian champions may outweigh the temptation of joining an English side still in the early stages of rebuilding.
Still, Sunderland’s ambition is unmistakable. Targeting a player of Kiteishvili’s calibre signals their intent to not just survive in the Premier League, but to thrive. Whether the Black Cats can convince the “Georgian Messi” to trade the Champions League for the Stadium of Light remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: they’re aiming high.
Alious
