At 5ft9in, Villarreal striker Georges Mikautadze isn’t the tallest.
Interested parties looking to pursue a target man this summer may well be put off by the Georgian’s standing. After all, the top Premier League teams opt for a physical presence to lead the charge.
Manchester City have Erling Haaland. Arsenal look to Viktor Gyokeres or Kai Havertz. Liverpool will rely on Alexander Isak after Hugo Ekitike’s Achilles injury. Benjamin Sesko is expected to lead the charge for Manchester United.
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That’s not to say that Europe’s elite sides shouldn’t consider Mikautadze in their quest to strengthen. Not every top team favours a brute to lead the charge. Paris Saint-Germain, for example, have Ousmane Dembele on the frontline.
Mikautadze quietly going about business
The 25-year-old has quietly gone about his business as one of Europe’s most effective forwards. He shot to prominence at Euro 2024, where he struck three times for Willy Sagnol’s plucky underdogs. The Crusaders won countless admirers for their performances in Germany two years ago.
Even playing a bit-part role for Lyon the following season, Mikautadze bagged 11 goals and laid on six assists across 1433 minutes of Ligue 1 action. A lack of regular game time, though, saw him depart for Villarreal last summer. 12 months on, and a Premier League move is on the cards.
It’s for good reason, too. 13 goals and six assists was a fine haul for the Yellow Submarine in La Liga last season. He marked his first league outing of the season with an assist in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Racing Santander.
Could that be Mikautadze’s final appearance in a Villarreal shirt? Well, with Newcastle sniffing around, and Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly keen, it may prove that the Georgian forward has played his last game for the Spanish giants.
And in truth, interest in Mikautadze is hardly a surprise. Teams that will favour a striker who does more than occupy markers with their standing and tuck the ball in the back of the net should be scrambling for the Villarreal hitman.
Attacking flexibility key
After all, he’s a player who likes to drift across the frontline, dragging defenders out of position and freeing up space for teammates. In doing so, he offers another outlet on the final third. With a quick turn of pace, he’s able to effectively play off the shoulder of the last defender.
What’s key here is that he is able to time his runs to perfection. Across 32 league outings, Mikautadze was flagged offside just three times in Spain’s top tier. This was particularly important for a Villarreal side that managed the fourth lowest possession average (44%) in La Liga last season. In turn, they scored more counter-attacking goals (14) than any other team.
Mikautadze was responsible for three of those. No player in the 2025/26 La Liga campaign netted more. As alluded to, though, Mikautadze is more than just a goalscorer.
A willingness to move across the line means he’s a target for teammates to do more than just score. This is evident in that created a modest 1.2 chances per 90 in La Liga last season. He managed two in the Racing Santander stalemate over the weekend. What’s more, Mikautadze completed four take ons in the 2-2 draw. The Georgia star averaged 1.4 completed take ons in the 2025/26 La Liga season.
Why Spurs and Newcastle are interested
With a desire to link up the play in the final third, he can essentially operate as a nine-and-a-half, which is the sort of striker Roberto De Zerbi is looking to sign this summer.
Eli Junior Kroupi was the preferred target. The Frenchman’s foot injury in pre-season ended any hopes of securing his services this summer. It’s seen Spurs switch targets to Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo. However, amidst reports that the north London side are interested in the Dutchman, Manchester City’s Savinho, and a central striker, Mikautadze should feature high on the wishlist.
Newcastle’s reported push for the forward shouldn’t come as a surprise either. New head coach Matthias Jaissle is looking to inject versatility to the frontline. A high-energy attacker would also help ease Anthony Gordon’s exit.
Mikautadze may not be a left winger by trade, but he’s a forward capable of playing from the left and then cutting onto his right. Combined with his off-the-ball running, it matches what newly-appointed Newcastle boss Jaissle is looking for from his attacking players.
As we near the close of the transfer window, Mikautadze is one to watch out for. Villarreal would be reluctant to cash in on their star forward so close to the deadline. However, a big money offer would force their hand. Yes, Mikautadze is not your average physical frontman. Conversely, he offers much-needed flexibility that potential suitors could exploit to great effect.