Transfers
Liverpool chase PSG Saint-Germain defender Illia Zabarnyi
Liverpool are actively scouting Paris Saint‑Germain defender Illia Zabarnyi as a centre‑back solution, a move sparked by the defensive gap highlighted amid the Barcola hype; the Ukrainian‑born 23‑year‑old is valued at €40‑45 million, a price the club could justify in its summer plan.
Liverpool’s current centre‑half roster lists Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, yet injuries, advancing age and limited Premier League exposure raise doubts about depth.
"I think Liverpool are a bit short at centre‑half. You're putting an awful lot in Jacquet and Leoni and of course Van Dijk, who’s now a year older, to go in with the options that you’ve currently got," noted David Lynch.
Illia Zabarnyi brings a physical profile and Premier League experience from his spell at Bournemouth, making him a plausible solution.
"I think it’s one of those that you could see legs in. Richard Hughes will know him from his time at Bournemouth and will know everything about the player. Of course the manager will like him as well," said Lynch.
If Paris Saint‑Germain decide Zabarnyi is not central to their plans, a cut‑price deal could emerge, a scenario Lynch likened to Liverpool’s acquisition of Ryan Gravenberch for a reduced fee from Bayern.
Transfer estimates place Zabarnyi in the €40‑45 million range, roughly £34.1‑£38.4 million, a figure Liverpool could rationalise given his age, European exposure and proven English experience.
"Zabarnyi is someone who I can get being on the radar, but again it’s still early in the window and it might take PSG to say there’s not really a role for him there to get that one moving. It might take a couple of weeks to get going, that one, but I wouldn’t sit here and rule that one out. I think that’s one to keep an eye on," Lynch explained.
Liverpool must monitor the situation closely, as patience, timing and the ability to act when market conditions shift remain hallmarks of the club’s recruitment model.