PSG are likely to prioritize a center-back this summer, and one name that’s emerging up on their radar is Bournemouth defender Illya Zabarnyi. But luring the Ukrainian defender away won’t be easy.
After leaning into a youth-focused strategy last year with signings like Lucas Beraldo and Willian Pacho, PSG seem set to continue down that path. Even with the summer window still a couple of months out, speculation has already begun to ramp up.
Back in May,SkySport Switzerland reported that PSG was keeping tabs on both Zabarnyi and Club Brugge’s Joel Ordoñez as potential additions. Whether Zabarnyi becomes a serious target may ultimately hinge on how things unfold elsewhere in the squad.
One variable is the future of Matvey Safonov. If Gianluigi Donnarumma locks down the long-term No. 1 spot, Safonov could be on the move—either on loan or in a permanent deal.
Clearing out the goalkeeper logjam would give PSG more room to maneuver—and could make any pitch to Zabarnyi a little more compelling.
PSG face competition for Bournemouth standout
Illia Zabarnyi
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According to information from Ukrainian outletTribuna (h/tLe10Sport), Zabarnyi is in high demand in the Premier League. Liverpool and Chelsea are reportedly ready to battle PSG to complete the transfer of the 22-year-old talent.
The question now is whether Luis Campos — PSG’s football advisor — will manage to beat both the Reds and the Blues.
A previous report fromL’Équipe’s Loïc Tanzi revealed that PSGare still in talks with Bournemouth over a deal for Zabarnyi. The defender has already told the club he only wants to join PSG ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, but Bournemouthare demanding a fee of around €70 million.
Moreover, the iPaper recently reported that Zabarnyi, a serious target for Newcastle and admired by Manchester City, is believed to have a starting price tag of around £50 million.