BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 21, 2024: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez (R) challenges with Bournemouth's Illya Zabarnyi during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 21, 2024: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez (R) challenges with Bournemouth's Illya Zabarnyi during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool have reportedly been offered the chance to sign centre-back Illia Zabarnyi from Paris Saint-Germain, with Andoni Iraola already a fond admirer.
Zabarnyi spent two seasons under Iraola at Bournemouth before earning a £57 million move to PSG in 2025.
But despite being a regular starter in his first campaign in Paris, the 23-year-old is already being touted with an exit.
Journalist Alex Crook has now revealed claims of Zabarnyi being “offered” to both Liverpool and Chelsea ahead of a possible move away from PSG.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Wednesday, Crook cited the ties to both Iraola and, perhaps more tellingly, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes, who signed him while still in charge of transfers at Bournemouth.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 1, 2025: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez (L) challenges AFC Bournemouth's Illya Zabarnyi during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. Liverpool won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 1, 2025: Liverpool's Darwin Núñez (L) challenges AFC Bournemouth's Illya Zabarnyi during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. Liverpool won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The likelihood is that Zabarnyi is being offered to clubs via an intermediary, which would suggest the Ukrainian is not happy with his situation in France.
This follows an update from Liverpool journalist David Lynch describing it as a deal to “keep an eye on” during an appearance on The Redmen TV.
“It might take a couple of weeks to get going, that one,” Lynch explained.
“But I wouldn’t sit here and rule that one out or say that that’s being dragged up [out of nowhere].”
Zabarnyi could therefore be considered a market opportunity for Liverpool at a time when they are actively seeking reinforcements in their defence.
Why Liverpool should strike deal for Illia Zabarnyi
A natural right-sided centre-back, he could provide another proven option in Iraola’s back line following Ibrahima Konate‘s free transfer to Real Madrid.
Virgil van Dijk, Jeremy Jacquet, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni are the established senior options at present, but Leoni is still recovering after ACL surgery and Gomez could be required at right-back instead.
Jacquet is also yet to play in the Premier League, and despite reporting back for pre-season fully fit is untested after shoulder surgery in March.
If Zabarnyi were to become available, even on loan, it is a deal which Iraola would almost certainly push for having admitted his “love” for the defender while at Bournemouth.
What Andoni Iraola said on “love” for Illia Zabarnyi
CHICAGO, USA - Tuesday, July 21, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference at the Endeavor Health Performance Center in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Tuesday, July 21, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference at the Endeavor Health Performance Center in Chicago ahead of the start of the club's pre-season tour of America. The team play friendly games in Nashville, New York and Chicago as they prepare for the start of the new 2026/27 Premier League season. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I’m not sure if we decided to change him one minute in the time I’ve been here,” Iraola told the Bournemouth Daily Echo last year.
“So that basically says everything about the confidence we have in him and how reliable and how robust also he is and he’s the kind of player that is very easy to coach.
“For a coach, he pays attention, he comes every day to train with a great attitude and I am enjoying also his development because now when I arrived he was a great player but quite shy.
“He didn’t talk a lot and now you see him managing everything from behind, shouting to the ones in front asking for the others and this is a show of how he’s developing and he’s becoming a more important player even for us.
“I love him personally and as a player.”
Marrakesh, Marocco. 31st Dec, 2025. December 31 2025: Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast gestures during a 2025 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations game, Gabon vs Ivory Coast, at Marrakesh stadium, Marrakesh, Marocco. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Ulrik P
Marrakesh, Marocco. 31st Dec, 2025. December 31 2025: Yan Diomande of Ivory Coast gestures during a 2025 AFCON Africa Cup of Nations game, Gabon vs Ivory Coast, at Marrakesh stadium, Marrakesh, Marocco. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Sipa USA (Credit Image: © Ulrik P
Football – FA Premier League – Liverpool FC v Chelsea FC
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's substitute Mor Talla Ndiaye on the bench before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Football – UEFA Champions League – Round of 16 – 1st Leg – Galatasaray SK v Liverpool FC
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Tuesday, March 10, 2026: Liverpool's substitute Amara Nallo during the pre-match warm-up before the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg match between Galatasaray SK and Liverpool FC at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)