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Chelsea are allegedly keeping tabs on Ukraine and Bournemouth centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi, who is currently relishing a fine 2024-25 campaign.
Zabarnyi, 22, has cemented himself as a key starter for the Cherries since departing Dynamo Kyiv for £20 million in the winter of 2023. He has helped his current side sit in 10th place in the league table with 21 points from 14 games.
So far this campaign, the right-footed defender has played every single minute of his team's Premier League action. The ball-playing centre-back has helped Andoni Iraola's club register two clean sheets in 14 league games so far.
Now, according to The Boot Room, Chelsea sent scouts to witness the Ukrainian in action in a 1-0 league win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this Thursday. They have been impressed with their target's recent defensive performance.
Meanwhile, the Blues are currently monitoring a host of other defenders as they are unhappy with Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill. They have allegedly been linked with the likes of Antonio Silva, Tomas Araujo, and Marc Guehi so far.
Chris Sutton provides prediction for upcoming Tottenham Hotspur-Chelsea league encounter
Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has backed his former club to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 in their Premier League away encounter on Sunday (December 8). He wrote in his column for BBC:
"Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou got a fair bit of flak after going over to speak to some Spurs fans following Thursday's defeat by Bournemouth. Football is a fickle business sometimes. It wasn't a good result, but you only have to go back a week or two and they were cheering Ange off after winning at Etihad Stadium."
Sutton, who scored three times in 39 total games for the Blues, added:
"Usually, I would expect a reaction from Spurs but they are so unpredictable that I don't know what will happen. They could win this game 4-0 like they did against Manchester City, or lose it by the same scoreline. So, I am going with Chelsea here."
Claiming that the Blues are title challengers now, Sutton concluded:
"While I do wonder about their experience, I think Enzo Maresca's side are title contenders even if he insists they aren't. Maresca may genuinely believe that, or he might be saying it to take the pressure off his players. Everyone slammed Chelsea's owners for spending so much on so many players and building such a big squad, but maybe there was a method in what people saw as madness."
While the west London outfit are second in the Premier League standings with 28 points from 14 games, Spurs are in 11th place with just 20 points.
Enzo Maresca's outfit have registered seven wins, two draws, and just one loss in their past 10 overall outings against Ange Postecoglou's side.
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Edited by Debkalpa Banerjee