Newcastle United have been linked with a move for AFC Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi this summer.
After losing Lloyd Kelly in the January transfer window, the Magpies are lacking bodies at centre-back and will need to dip into the transfer market to sign a replacement.
Kelly’s move to Juventus is set to become permanent, so Newcastle United will be a defender short going into the summer transfer window. Thankfully, Newcastle are set to bag around £15m for Kelly’s transfer, giving them more funds ahead of a potentially busy transfer window.
Newcastle are targeting a move for Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi after the Ukrainian impressed under Andoni Iraola this season.
Reports have claimed that Zabarnyi will cost Newcastle around £50m this summer, a fee that they can afford thanks to a sensible approach to the last three transfer windows.
With Newcastle eager to sign a centre-back this summer, a new transfer report has shared how Bournemouth feel about selling Zabarnyi this summer.
Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Bournemouth are not keen on selling Illia Zabarnyi to Newcastle United
The links to Zabanyi came just days before defender Dean Huijsen finalised a move to Real Madrid this summer.
Huijsen had a £50m release clause at Bournemouth, and Real were the first club to activate it. Given their interest, it looked difficult for Newcastle to get a deal done, and now they have turned their attention to Huijsen’s teammate.
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However, it looks like a deal for Zabarnyi will be far from easy. According to a new report from Give Me Sport, Bournemouth are set to resist any offers for the 22-year-old this summer, with the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham also circling.
The report states that Huijsen’s exit has drastically reduced the South Coast club’s chances of selling Zabarnyi, as they believe selling both centre-backs would be disastrous for them.
Newcastle have also been linked with Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert this summer after a sensational display against the Magpies at St James’ Park earlier this season.
Illia Zabarnyi’s statistics compared to Newcastle United defenders
With Fabian Schar and Dan Burn approaching the latter stages of their careers, sporting director Paul Mitchell must now bring in the new guard of centre-backs to replace them.
Newcastle have Sven Botman as the most likely long-term replacement for Burn, but recent injuries are bound to worry club staff.
Appearances Inteceptions/90 Tackles/90 Passes/90 Pass completion %
Illia Zabarnyi 34 1.1 1.4 46.5 82.2
Dan Burn 36 0.7 1.1 53.6 88.7
Fabian Schar 33 1.3 1.1 57.1 84.3
Sven Botman 7 0.7 1.1 28.6 88.5
With Schar now 34, Zabarnyi would be an ideal replacement for him, albeit at a much higher cost than they paid for the Switzerland international in 2018.
Schar signed a new deal at Newcastle until 2026, but his future after next season still remains to be seen.
Zabarnyi is right-footed and, like Schar, loves to play long balls. At just 22, the Ukrainian could be exactly what Howe needs to take Newcastle to the next level.