Tottenham set to battle it out with Chelsea for the signing of Bournemouth star Ilya Zabarnyi
It has not been the start to the 2024/25 campaign Tottenham Hotspur fans had hoped for, with Ange Postecoglou’s side slumping to 10th after a shock defeat to Ipswich Town.
Inconsistency have been a major issue that has hampered Spurs in Ange Postecoglou’s second season in the Premier League. They have had their fair share of injury problems too, with Micky van de Ven suffering a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie with Manchester City. His centre-back partner Cristian Romero only narrowly escaped a long-term injury just ahead of the international break.
Tottenham do have serious issues in central defence currently, with Radu Dragusin being criticized for his recent display in the 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town. As a result, the north London are set to make a move to bring in a new central defender in the upcoming winter transfer window. They have allocated substantial funds to sign a new centre-back, as Daniel Levy hopes to bolster the club’s defensive ranks.
Now, according to an exclusive report from CaughtOffside, Tottenham are set to rival bitter London rivals Chelsea for the signing of highly-rated Bournemouth defender Ilya Zabarnyi.
Ilya Zabarnyi has already established himself as one of the most promising young defenders in the Premier League. The Ukrainian international has made 11 appearances this season, playing a key role in Bournemouth’s strong start to the season. He has been a mainstay at the back as Andoni Iraola’s side have beaten Arsenal and Manchester City at home thus far this term.
The defender recently signed a new five-year contract at the Vitality Stadium that runs until 2029 (Transfermarkt), yet interest in him continues to grow. The aforementioned report adds Bournemouth will listen to clubs willing to offer in the region of £50m for Zabarnyi. While those demands may look steep, both Tottenham and Chelsea are ready to meet those requirements.
Zabarnyi has been developing well in the Premier League since arriving at Bournemouth from Dynamo Kyiv in January 2023. He has taken his game to another level under Iraola’s guidance, apparently catching the eye of the Tottenham Hotspur chiefs.
Standing at 6ft 2ins tall, the 22-year-old is strong in the air, tenacious in the challenge and a crisp passer of the ball. The Ukrainian is a good reader of the game and also has a decent recovery pace, which could go a long way in helping Spurs play a high defensive line. Having gained a decent amount of experience in the Premier League, Zabarnyi can be trusted to handle the pressure of playing for a big club like Tottenham.
More Tottenham Hotspur News:
- Tottenham in three-way transfer battle as Conte plans to sign Spurs target this summer
- Not Toney – Tottenham put off by €50m asking price for striker whose contract expires in less than 12 months
- Tottenham now in position to hijack Chelsea deal for Serie A ace
Valued at around £50m, Spurs must do everything in their powers to beat Chelsea to the Bournemouth defensive wall’s signing in January.
