Tottenham Hotspur were interested in signing Ilya Zabarnyi, but did not manage to be successful
Last season was full of expectations for Tottenham Hotspur, but the fortunes were different for the club in the Premier League and the Europa League. By winning the Europa League, the team not only added a hard-earned trophy to the cabinet finally but also secured a place in the Champions League for the 2025/26 season.
Defeating Manchester United in that final gave a different satisfaction for all of us fans. Meanwhile, Thomas Frank has taken charge of the team after the departure of Ange Postecoglou this summer, and with his arrival, new plans have been put into action at the club. Some big changes have already taken place this summer, and there is still more brewing up in the transfer market.
The team added Mohammed Kudus to further strengthen the attack and signed Mathys Tel permanently. On the other hand, Son Heung-min has left the club, leaving an experienced face in the attacking department. Meanwhile, Joao Palhinha has arrived to strengthen the midfield. On the other hand, Tottenham were looking for another important signing who could have strengthened the defence. This search led them to a player from the Premier League itself.
Incomplete attempt on Zabarnyi
Ilya Zabarnyi performed brilliantly for Bournemouth in the 2024/25 season. His consistency and tactical understanding caught the attention of many big clubs. TBR reported that Liverpool and Chelsea were interested in him. In July, it was revealed that Tottenham had also approached to sign the Ukrainian. During this time, PSG entered the race, and there was a fear within the French club that Spurs or Newcastle United could secure the deal, as per L’Equipe.
However, Zabarnyi’s mind was already made up. He did not show any interest in Tottenham or Newcastle United. The centre-back’s only goal was to join PSG this summer. According to the report from TBR, PSG are close to confirming his deal for around €65 million (£56.3m), and it could be officially confirmed in the coming days.
A huge missed opportunity
We think not being able to sign the 22-year-old is a big missed opportunity ahead of next season. When playing in the Champions League, you need a player in defence who can’t make mistakes under pressure. Zabarnyi had those qualities — Premier League experience, young age, and consistent performance in his short career.
Giving up against PSG may have been a necessity, but the impact will be felt in the squad. Thomas Frank’s plans may lack a reliable centre-back who could have been a great partner to Cristian Romero, amidst talks about his future. Squad depth is especially important when playing a long season in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
Attacking players like Kudus and Tel are a boost, but without a strong defence, it’s hard to achieve big successes. If a defender like Zabarnyi was signed, Tottenham’s next season could have started even stronger, but what’s gone is gone; we can’t be sitting and lamenting what did not materialize for us.
