Chelsea, Tottenham Breathe Easy as PSG Suffer Setback in Pursuit of £50M-Rated Bournemouth Star

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly in the market for a right-footed central defender and they have their sight set on one particular player, but there’s a significant hurdle before they can proceed with a deal.

Illia Zabarnyi has become a standout for Bournemouth this 2024-25 season and the Ukrainian’s performance with the English side has brought suitors ahead of the January transfer window.

CaughtOffside reported last month, citing sources, that despite Bournemouth having only recently tied down Zabarnyi to a deal that keeps him with the Cherries until 2029, they will listen to clubs willing to offer around £50 million for the player.

Moreover, their information claims that Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will rival one another for the signature of Zabarnyi.

Are PSG also in the mix for Illia Zabarnyi?

Geopolitics often intersects with football, sometimes complicating negotiations. This seems to be the case with Zabarnyi. Since joining Bournemouth from Dynamo Kyiv in the summer of 2023, the right-footed defender has become a regular starter in the Premier League and is reported of interest to PSG.

L’Équipe reported on Friday, citing sources, that initial discussions have already occurred regarding the Ukrainian international, who has earned 45 caps. However, a potential transfer faces significant challenges due to the presence of Russian goalkeeper Matvei Safonov in the PSG squad.

With the ongoing war in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, such a move seems unlikely. The positions of both players on the matter have not been publicly disclosed.