Tottenham Hotspur may need to sign a new centre-back this summer
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Tottenham Hotspur have begun to make a serious impact on the transfer market in recent weeks as new manager Thomas Frank gets to grips with life in north London and prepares his squad for a big Champions League campaign ahead.
Spurs are in the awkward position of having Champions League football in the offing while lacking a squad playing at the top of their game, ready to take on the very best Europe has to offer.
Such is the juxtaposition that was Ange Postecoglou’s final season at the club, Frank has not got an easy job on his hands. The Dane held his first press conference as Spurs boss on Friday and spoke of his excitement for the role, while knowing the task that lies ahead.
Spurs have already secured Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso on permanent deals in addition to young players Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai, while their first major marquee signing of the summer arrived in the £55m purchase of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United. But they are not done there.
Spurs ready to pay asking price for Premier League defender
Spurs may be on the look-out for a new centre-back this summer, amidst continued reports linking Cristian Romero with an Atletico Madrid exit. According to Caught Offside, Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi could be the man they turn to. The report states that Spurs are “willing to pay” the Cherries’ full asking price of around €70million (£60m) for the talented Ukraine international.
Zabarnyi went somewhat under the radar last season playing alongside Dean Huijsen, who was 19 for much of the season and has now signed for Real Madrid, starting for them in the Club World Cup. But Zabarnyi is only 22 himself and has made 86 appearances for Bournemouth since arriving on the south coast in January 2023. He has reportedly submitted a transfer request which is “under internal review”.
While it may seem like a steep price to pay, Zabarnyi is a top prospect and would be more than capable of stepping into the boots of Romero. As comfortable with the ball at his feet as he is defending for his life, Zabarnyi has often been tasked at Bournemouth with playing progressive passes while often being the last line of cover when Huijsen would stride forward - something Micky van de Ven is also known to do. He could be a great fit.
Spurs will face elite competition for Zabarnyi
The main obstacle in the way of the signing of Zabarnyi could well be European champions PSG. Luis Enrique’s side have been viewed as the front-runners for the Ukrainian for the entire summer so far, though Bournemouth have so far rejected two bids reaching around €60m (£52m).
Caught Offside’s report continues that Zabarnyi remains “focused” on PSG and is not actively engaging in talks with other clubs. This could provide a stumbling block for the likes of Spurs, who may fear that the Ukraine international will wait for an improved offer to come in from Paris.
In addition to PSG, Premier League rivals Liverpool and Chelsea have also been touted in holding an interest in Zabarnyi. Neither are close to making an official proposal at present, meaning Spurs may have the chance to get ahead of them in the running with a huge offer. Bournemouth are likely to accept an offer from the highest bidder and have no reason to sell for a reduced price, so Spurs’ readiness to meet their valuation could give Frank’s side an advantage in proceedings.