Spurs make exciting bid for £57m star who previously said no to Arsenal
Spurs might keep their big summer spending going with a bold move for a £57 million star who said no to their rivals Arsenal.
After avoiding relegation, Roberto De Zerbi has been making his mark at Spurs by signing new players worth a total of £228 million.
They made a club-record signing by bringing in Sandro Tonali for £100 million, beating the £85 million deal for Matheus Fernandes just days before.
They also signed Jean-Paul Van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million.
But Spurs are still eager to add more, especially a new central defender after Cristian Romero left for Atletico Madrid.
According to TEAMtalk, they might go after Paris Saint-Germain defender Illia Zabarnyi, who could be open to leaving this summer.
Zabarnyi joined PSG last summer in a £57 million deal from Bournemouth and even won the Champions League in his first season.
It’s said that a move this summer is quite possible, and things could develop as the transfer window goes on.
Spurs have “taken a look” at the Ukraine international but haven’t started serious talks yet.
The 23-year-old’s situation is worth watching, as a return to the Premier League seems likely.
He was linked with possibly reuniting with Andoni Iraola at Liverpool, but Liverpool chose Ronaldo Araujo from Barcelona instead, so Zabarnyi there looks less likely now.
Chelsea also signed Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace and seem finished strengthening their defense.
Spurs are now showing interest, which makes sense since Zabarnyi is great with the ball at his feet—a style Roberto De Zerbi loves for building play from the back.
He might already be a fan favorite at Spurs too, since he reportedly turned down a move to Arsenal in summer 2024.
The Gunners had scouts watch him at Euro 2024 and tried to sign him, but he ended up extending his contract with Bournemouth instead.
After signing until 2029, Zabarnyi said: “I’m so excited and so happy to be here.
I’m really enjoying it, it’s a beautiful town and a really exciting project. I’ve had a lot of good moments, and last season was important for me.
We set a record for points, but we can do more. It’s a great place to be, and I’m happy to stay longer.”
Zabarnyi joined Bournemouth from Dynamo Kyiv for £24 million in January 2023, stayed for another year, then moved to PSG, where he’s played 38 games so far.
Meanwhile, Spurs are close to signing both Savinho and Cody Gakpo from Manchester City and Liverpool, and they’re also considering Folarin Balogun and Nicolas Jackson as striker options.