Ilya Zabarnyi, the 22-year-old central defender from Bournemouth (contract runs until 2029) and Ukraine, has been announced as one of Paris Saint-Germain’s defensive priorities for the mercato. There is even talk of some progress towards a transfer. Journalist Fabrizio Romano gave DAZN the lowdown, adding PSG’s overall idea for this mercato.
“Ilia Zabarnyi update, according to Fabrizio Romano
There’s already an agreement with the player. PSG will make an offer soon! Luis Enrique and Campos really liked him. Before the CDM, PSG offered 60M, which was not enough for the English club, who wanted 70 to 75M. Negotiations will resume shortly.”
“According to Fabrizio Romano, PSG want three new recruits this summer, including a defender. The European champions also want to extend Barcola’s contract quickly, as he is a very important player for Luis Enrique.”
We remain cautious, as there’s nothing official yet, and the number of players targeted for the mercato can change quickly. There’s a general plan, undoubtedly with a central defender and a full-back, as well as possibly a midfielder or a striker. But this will also vary according to the opportunities and possible departures that may emerge with offers or requests. It’s too early to say what the PSG mercato will be.
It’s easy to think that there will be a few reinforcements, but the squad isn’t perfect and we have to be wary of a season with more absences than last year. Paris has been particularly quiet, but a little bad luck goes a long way.
Zabarnyi seems to be one of the targets, as all the media reports point in that direction. Except that the deal is far from done, and Bournemouth have set a high price. We’ll have to wait and see if negotiations can move forward. PSG could also turn to another avenue.
