Illya Zabarnyi, a 22-year-old Ukrainian center back playing for Bournemouth, is Paris Saint-Germain’s defensive priority during this summer transfer window, as confirmed by Le Parisien. While a verbal agreement exists between the player and the Parisian club, PSG must now convince Bournemouth, which is demanding €70 million for its defensive stalwart, compared to an initial offer of €60 million deemed insufficient. Additionally, Gianluigi Donnarumma, 26, has yet to extend his contract.
“The priority case concerns Bournemouth’s Ukrainian defender, Illya Zabarnyi.”
“The priority case concerns Bournemouth’s Ukrainian defender, Illya Zabarnyi. The player, attracted by Paris Saint-Germain’s offer, has already reached an agreement with the capital club. But after selling Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid for nearly €60 million, the leaders of the Premier League’s ninth-placed team are looking to hit the jackpot again with Zabarnyi.
“The only certainty is that Nasser al-Khelaïfi has also gotten involved in the case.”
The latest French offer of €60 million was deemed insufficient by the English, who are careful with every penny, particularly when it comes to various bonuses and other incentives. According to British sources, Bournemouth is not willing to let go of the other pillar of its central defense for less than €70 million and is prepared to prolong the suspense in order to achieve its goal. This position is made all the easier by the fact that Tottenham has also entered the fray in an attempt to lure the Ukrainian.
The only certainty is that Nasser al-Khelaïfi, as is often the case, has also invited himself into the deal in an attempt to facilitate negotiations with the British board and avoid dragging the matter out until the end of August.
“Negotiations with the Italian goalkeeper are at a standstill “
“No action has yet been taken, however, on the other major issue of the offseason, namely the future of Gianluigi Donnarumma. Negotiations with the Italian goalkeeper over an extension to his contract, which expires in June 2026, have stalled. Does this status quo bring the Italian closer to a departure this summer? Paris, which has been in talks with Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, already has a backup plan on paper.
But if Donnarumma were to leave, the hardest part would still remain: finding common ground with Olivier Létang, president of Losc, who is said to be at least as tough in negotiations as his counterparts at Bournemouth.“
As always with the mercato, we’re very cautious, because there’s no such thing as a sure thing with rumours. We see it every summer and winter. It’s only when a club or player makes a concrete announcement that we can really see things a little more clearly. Or when all the media agree on the same point in a short space of time. This is not the case at the moment.
Quite simply, everyone is saying that there is no agreement between PSG and Bournemouth. That’s easy enough to confirm, since the transfer has not been announced. Will there be a breakthrough? It’s conceivable, but not at all certain. So let’s wait and see. Paris could speed things up soon, around the time training resumes.
As for Donnarumma, the media continue to circle the issue without having much to contribute. There’s no question of a blockage in the concrete elements that exist: the goalkeeper and his agent have reiterated their desire to extend and a certain optimism. A little patience, then. Lucas Chevalier has been mooted as a possible replacement for some time, but there has been no confirmation, and there’s nothing to suggest that the transfer would be straightforward.
