Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca watches before a Premier League match (Photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Chelsea is tied to Bournemouth defender Ilya Zabarini’s move.
The 22-year-old did very well in the Premier League last season, attracting the attention of Chelsea, Newcastle United and PSG.
The Ukrainian defender appears to be tempted by his move to a Champions League winner, but Chelsea and Newcastle have recently asked about him.
Graeme Bailey revealed to TBR:
Ilya Zabarnyi will be added firmly
Chelsea needed a quality central defender this summer, and the 22-year-old would have been an ideal acquisition. He has demonstrated his abilities in the Premier League, with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraora recently described him as a great player who is “very easy to coach.” The Spanish manager also claimed that the Ukrainians had great attitudes.
He was definitely an excellent addition to the Chelsea defensive unit. The Blues looked vulnerable at back last season. Some of the current options need to be upgraded, and it is still unclear if they will currently proceed to other targets.
The defenders are keen to move to PSG, and the French champions hope to close the deal quickly.
Newcastle remains enthusiastic
Newcastle, meanwhile, is also passionate about players. They need a trusted partner of Sven Botman. They will be competing in the Champions League next year and will need to close in the back.
Chelsea hopes to fight for a massive trophy next year. They have a talented team, but if you want to fit into an elite club, you need to insert some of the gaps into their side. Someone like Zabarnyi would have been a transformative addition.
