Tottenham have made it no secret that Illia Zabarnyi is an option to strengthen their defence this summer.
Zabarnyi formed an elite partnership with Dean Huijsen for Bournemouth in the Premier League last season.
But with the latter of the two arriving at Real Madrid, the Cherries are reluctant to lose another defender. As a result, the club are said to have slapped a hefty fee on the centre-back.
However, Daniel Levy does not like to lose and is prepared to give in to the demands tabled.
Zabarnyi agrees to five-year deal with PSG
As reported by RMC Sport on Wednesday (30 July), Tottenham is ready to meet the £60million demanded by Bournemouth.
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The huge bid would break Spurs’ transfer record and is a testament to how much Levy values the player. However, it seems his heart is still set on the Parisian club.
The report adds that the defender has already agreed on a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain and is waiting for the clubs to come to an agreement.
As a result, a move to North London looks unlikely for the Cherries centre-back. But a return to the charge cannot be ruled out if his deal with PSG falls through.
Tottenham are stacked in the centre-back position
While squad depth is important, Tottenham run the risk of frustrating their players if another centre-back arrives without a sale.
It seems like Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero will retain their starting positions under Thomas Frank. While Kevin Danso and Ben Davies are good rotational options.
Meanwhile, the arrivals of Kota Takai and Luca Vuskovic position Spurs’ defence as one of the best in the Premier League in terms of talent. Vuskovic, in particular, has shown that he could become a starter within the next 12 months.
As a result, breaking a club record for a centre-back who does not have Spurs as his first option seems hasty. It would be better to invest that money in positions where Tottenham are lacking, such as left wing or in the midfield.
Therefore, missing out on Zabarnyi could turn out to be best for all involved.