Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain defender Illia Zabarnyi, as per TEAMtalk.
Having struggled with defensive frailties over the last two seasons, the Lilywhites have decided to solidify their backline by signing Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke this summer. Moreover, they have managed to tie Micky Van de Ven down to a fresh long-term contract.
However, TEAMtalk claim that following Cristian Romero’s move to Atletico Madrid, Spurs are showing an interest in signing Zabarnyi to upgrade the defence further.
After moving to Parc des Princes from AFC Bournemouth last summer, Zabarnyi featured regularly in Ligue 1. However, he struggled to break into Luis Enrique’s starting line-up for big Champions League matches.
The Ukrainian international is keen on playing regularly; therefore, he might leave the French capital before the September 1st transfer deadline.
The report state that Liverpool have been linked with Zabarnyi, who previously thrived under Andoni Iraola. However, having already signed Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, the Reds are currently well stocked at the back, and they need to create space if they wish to sign Zabarnyi.
On the other hand, Chelsea were linked with a move for the PSG man, but after purchasing Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace, they aren’t pushing to sign a new centre-back.
Zabarnyi to Tottenham
Having recently joined Les Parisiens, Zabarnyi still has a contract until 2030. Therefore, Enrique’s side are in a strong position to demand a big fee if they are forced to sell him this summer, with the player valued at around £34m by Transfermarkt.
The 23-year-old is a 6ft 2in tall right-footed centre-back. He is quick, good in the air, technically sound, and comfortable playing out from the back.
Moreover, he reads the game well and is efficient in defensive contributions. In 28 Ligue 1 appearances, the defender scored a solitary goal and kept 14 clean sheets last campaign.
Zabarnyi is a talented player and hasn’t reached his prime yet. Having previously played for Bournemouth, he already knows about the Premier League’s physicality.
Therefore, the youngster might be a shrewd acquisition for Tottenham should they purchase him. However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services.
