Yardbarker
x
Tottenham willing to pay €70m for PSG target defender this summer
Shaun Brooks-Imagn Images

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to go big for Ilia Zabarnyi

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to bring in a new centre back in the ongoing summer transfer window as Daniel Levy looks to compound on the depth at the back at N17, and given that requirement, the North Londoners have shown serious interest in bringing Bournemouth centre back Illia Zabarnyi to Hotspur Way. However, the Lilywhites have been met by competition from French giants PSG.

And to add to the woes at Hotspur Way, the 22-year-old is said to be preferring a move to Paris.

Levy prepared to fork out hefty fees for Zabarnyi

According to the latest report by RMC Sport (as relayed by Sport Witness), Tottenham are said to be one of the few clubs to have formally registered their interest in signing the 22-year-old before the summer window comes to a conclusion.

The report further reiterates that the Cherries have slapped a huge €70 million price tag on the centre back, with Daniel Levy prepared to fork out the hefty pricing demands to secure his signature.

However, despite the North Londoners’ willingness to match the Cherries’ demands, Zabarnyi is not biting (at least till now).

The Ukrainian international is said to have already agreed on personal terms on a five-year deal with PSG, and he is said to be holding out for a possible move to the French champions.

PSG looking to agree on a possible transfer for Zabarnyi

RMC goes on to claim that had Zabarnyi been open to joining Tottenham outright without his preference for PSG, then a transfer might already have been completed, but instead he remains focused on sealing a move to the Champions League champions and working under Luis Enrique, but that has left the Lilywhites in limbo as the Paris-based side now tries to act fast to finalise a probable transfer before other potential suitors can intervene.

At the moment, Parisians are said to have tabled a fresh offer, which is said to have €60m guaranteed, but the rest, €10m, remains in possible add-ons, which brings it up to Bournemouth’s €70m demand. But that doesn’t satisfy the decision-makers at Vitality Stadium, which has prompted PSG director Luis Campos to escalate things to club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Author Opinion

As for now, this deal looks a tad too far away from Tottenham, and it could end up being another high-profile transfer slip through Daniel Levy’s grips this summer window.

While this is very different from the past seasons, where Tottenham were often outbid or slow to act, at the moment, from what we are seeing, while the 63-year-old club chairman is willing to pay, the player simply wants to go elsewhere.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!