Football
Exclusive: Man Utd Join Illia Zabarnyi Transfer Battle as Premier League Rivals Circle
Bournemouth's Ilya Zabarnyi is being pursued by Man Utd, Brentford, and Brighton, despite PSG's interest. The 22-year-old Ukrainian defender wants to stay in the Premier League. Clubs are willing to pay £40-50 million. Man Utd is eager to strengthen after a poor season defensively. Brentford and Brighton also seek defensive reinforcements. Zabarnyi has impressed in 86 games for Bournemouth, mostly in the Premier League.
AFC Bournemouth v Liverpool FC - Premier League by Catherine Ivill - AMA | Getty Images
Bournemouth centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi is wanted by Manchester United, Brentford and Brighton, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The highly-rated 22-year-old has already caught the attention of Champions League winners Paris St-Germain.
But our sources understand that the experienced Ukraine international is keen to continue playing his football in the Premier League.
And after an impressive season for the Cherries last season, helping the club finish ninth in the table, the defender knows rival clubs are interested in recruiting.
However, the 49-cap international is under contract until 2029 at the Vitality Stadium and a fee of between £40-50million is understood to be wanted by the Cherries if any potential deal is going to be struck, especially with a Premier League rival.
Manchester United are desperate to strengthen at the back with Sweden international centre-back Victor Lindelof having been released and experienced defender Jonny Evans also set to leave the club.
United have plenty of options in central defence with Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Ayden Heaven and Harry Maguire, but both Yoro (19) and Heaven (18) are still teenagers and with plenty still to prove at the top level.
England ace Maguire has struggled for form, as has former Ajax recruit De Ligt, while Argentina international Martinez has been frustrated with injuries since his arrival at Old Trafford.
DESIRE TO STRENGTHEN IN DEFENCE
Red Devils’ boss Ruben Amorim has made no secret of his desire to tighten at the back following the club’s worst-ever finish, 15th, in the Premier League last season.
United leaked goals for fun, shipping an alarming 54 goals in 38 games, 18 of which defeats.
Brentford and Brighton are also hungry to bolster in central defence as they look to build on commendable 10th and eighth place finishes, respectively last term.
The Bees shipped in 56 goals and the Seagulls 59 against and know they have to improve to stand any chance of qualifying for Europe next season.
Zabarnyi is admired by all three clubs having grown from strength-to-strength in the top-flight.
He joined the Cherries on a five-year deal from Ukranian outfit Dynamo Kiev in the 2023 January transfer window and extended his contract in July 2024 with the club quickly aware of his talents and other clubs circling to try and entice him away.
He has so far played 86 games for the club in two and a half seasons, with 78 of those in the Premier League.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.