Ilya Zabarnyi, a 22-year-old center back for Bournemouth (under contract until 2028) and Ukraine, has been announced as a defensive priority for Paris Saint-Germain in the transfer window. There is even talk of some progress toward a transfer. Djamel announced on Friday evening, as reported in the British media, that the deal is well on its way.
“The Zabarnyi deal is well underway. Nasser has been in direct contact with the Bournemouth chairman over the past few days to reach an agreement.
The player has already spoken with Lucho, and the discussions have been very positive. The Ukrainian defender immediately let the coach know that he wanted to play under him, regardless of interest from other clubs.
There is growing optimism within the management team that this deal will be finalized.”
We remain cautious until it’s official, but it’s interesting to see several media outlets reporting the same thing in such a short space of time. Especially since they are fairly reliable sources. There is at least reason to be optimistic, even if we shouldn’t get too excited just yet.
The transfer fee is reportedly set at €60 million, with bonuses that should bring the total closer to €70 million. This is a significant expense for PSG, but the defender seems to be a perfect fit for the project.
Physically strong, skilled in one-on-one situations, and comfortable with the ball, Zabarnyi could have a very successful spell at PSG. Let’s hope the good news is confirmed.