In mid-June, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) made significant progress in its attempt to recruit Ilya Zabarnyi, Ukraine’s central defender. However, since that time, negotiations have faced increasing difficulties. The operation, which seemed promising, stagnated, despite an offer of EUR 60 million (including bonuses) submitted by the PSG. According to news from the English newspaper The Independent, Bournemouth, the player’s club, categorically refuses to offer less than 70 million euros. This news has considerably cooled the enthusiasm of the Paris leadership.

The situation is also influenced by the fact that Bournemouth no longer needs to sell, following transfers from Dean Huyjsen to Real Madrid and Milos Kerkez to Liverpool. The PSG had initially targeted Zabarnyi in order to strengthen its defensive staff, in competition with Marquinhos, and potentially to position him in the long term as a central legal defender. The player, an international Ukrainian with 49 selections and 3 goals, had already attracted observers’ attention in the previous season thanks to his remarkable performances with Bournemouth.

During the current season, Zabarnyi made 1 assists in 39 matches in all competitions, demonstrating its offensive potential in addition to its defensive qualities. The difficulty in agreeing on the sale price is therefore a major obstacle for the PSG in its willingness to recruit Ilya Zabarnyi. The future of this transfer remains uncertain, and the Parisian club will probably have to reconsider its strategy to meet its central defence needs.

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