Tottenham make shock €70m bid for Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi
Tottenham Hotspur are stepping up their preparations for the 2025/26 season under new boss Thomas Frank.
In Mohammed Kudus, the North Londoners have made their summer transfer window’s marquee signing thus far, and the Ghanaian international impressed during his pre-season outing against Reading last weekend. Spurs have also signed Japanese defensive prospect Kota Takai, while a deal for Morgan Gibbs-White remains on standby.
Not only are Spurs looking to upgrade their squad after last season’s horror show, but also aiming to hold onto their key players. One of them is Cristian Romero, who has been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid for months. Thomas Frank will be eager to keep Romero, given his importance to the club, but the Argentina international wants to play in La Liga. It was reported last week that Atletico Madrid are preparing a mega offer for the Tottenham star.
Atletico trying their best to lure Romero away from England has led to Tottenham activating their interest in a Premier League defender. The player is none other than Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi, and Spurs are ready to pay the full asking price to land his signature this summer.
Tottenham table €70m bid for Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi
Illia Zabarnyi enjoyed a fantastic 2024/25 season, making 36 appearances in the Premier League and forming a strong partnership with Dean Huijsen at the back. Huijsen has departed for Real Madrid, while there is interest in the Ukraine international from European champions Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Premier League clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
However, it is Spurs who have made the first concrete step to sign the Bournemouth defender. According to The Times journalist Duncan Castles, Tottenham have made a €70m bid for Zabarnyi. He claims that the North London club’s bid is the asking price for the defender set by the Cherries’ owner Bill Foley.
“Illia Zabarnyi, who Paris Saint-Germain have been working on a deal for about six months in reality, but actively working with Bournemouth for three months, I’m told, their offer for the Ukraine centre-back is €60m,” Duncan Castles said on The Transfers Podcast.
“They believe they should be able to secure the player at that price, and the player definitely wants to come to them — has agreed personal terms with PSG and is pushing for the move.
“But Tottenham, one of several Premier League clubs who are unsurprisingly interested in the 22-year-old, one of the quickest centre-backs in the Premier League and almost a perfect attendance record in the Premier League over his two seasons at Bournemouth.
“Guidance from Bournemouth is that Tottenham have offered €70m for the player, which is owner Bill Foley’s asking price, and which would represent a new club record transfer fee for Tottenham, exceeding the initial £55m with £10m of variables that they paid Bournemouth for Dominic Solanke last summer.
“If Zabarnyi is to move to Tottenham rather than Paris Saint-Germain, Bournemouth will have to convince the player to give up on the idea of joining the European Champions for the Europa League winners and a club who finished well down the English table last season.
“That, I think, is going to be a difficult ask, but let’s see how it pans out over the next week or so.”
Tottenham face tough ask to sign Illia Zabarnyi
The Lilywhites currently have a plethora of centre-backs options at Frank’s disposal. Yet, as per Castles, Spurs have tabled a big bid for Zabarnyi. If that is the case, it looks like Romero’s chapter at the club is inevitably coming to an end.
At 22, Zabarnyi would be a fantastic long-term replacement for Romero. The pacey and athletic Ukrainian would complement Micky Van de Ven at the heart of Tottenham’s defence, whilst bringing in leadership skills. However, as the Kyiv-born talent has agreed personal terms with PSG and is pushing to join them, it would take a herculean effort from Daniel Levy and Co. to change his mind and join Frank’s side.
