Liverpool Transfer News: Illia Zabarnyi Could Become a Serious PSG Opportunity

Liverpool’s summer planning continues to generate attention around elite attacking names, but the more intriguing conversation may yet develop at centre-back. Bradley Barcola has attracted plenty of headlines, however discussion around Paris Saint-Germain may not end there. Illia Zabarnyi is another name worth watching, particularly given Liverpool’s current defensive balance and the relationships already in place behind the scenes.

Credit to David Lynch on Redmen TV, whose latest assessment pointed towards a deal that may not be active right now, but carries enough logic to warrant close attention as the market develops.

Liverpool transfer stance around Illia Zabarnyi

There is no suggestion that Liverpool are advancing aggressively at this stage, yet the profile makes sense. Zabarnyi is known to key decision-makers, with Richard Hughes having first-hand knowledge from Bournemouth, while Andoni Iraola’s previous work with the defender naturally strengthens the connection. When clubs assess possible deals, familiarity matters. Liverpool have often moved most decisively when recruitment staff and coaching structures share a clear understanding of a player’s level, personality and tactical suitability.

That is why this possibility feels credible. As was explained, “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.” In market terms, that is an important starting point. Liverpool do not usually drift into expensive decisions without conviction from several departments.

The wider point is also relevant. If PSG reach the conclusion that Zabarnyi is not central to their plans, the conditions could become favourable. Liverpool have repeatedly shown a willingness to strike when high-level talent becomes available at a more attractive fee than expected. That angle was captured succinctly: “If PSG are in a situation where they think, ‘OK, this hasn’t quite worked out; we’re willing to do a cut-price deal’, that’s the sort of thing Liverpool tend to be all over. You think about them taking Ryan Gravenberch for a cut-price fee from Bayern.”

PSG defender fits a clear squad requirement

Even after movement in and out of the position, centre-back remains an area that deserves scrutiny. Liverpool have Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni as senior options, but that number alone does not tell the full story. Leoni is still recovering from a serious ACL injury, Jacquet is highly regarded but unproven at Premier League level, Gomez’s availability can never be assumed over a full campaign, and Van Dijk, while still operating at an elite standard, is 35.

It is in that context that the assessment becomes more persuasive. “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.” That feels like a fair reading of the squad. Liverpool may have numbers on paper, but depth, durability and certainty are separate questions.

Zabarnyi would address several of those concerns at once. He is 23, physically strong, accustomed to Premier League demands from his Bournemouth spell, and experienced enough to arrive without requiring a long adaptation period. He would not need to be carried through development stages in the way younger options might.

Transfer value makes sense for Liverpool

Any realistic move would still depend on price. Estimates have placed Zabarnyi in the €40m to €45m range, which converts to roughly £34.1m to £38.4m. For a player of his age, with top-level European exposure and proven experience in English football, that sits in a range Liverpool could justify if they judge the opportunity to be strategic rather than opportunistic.

Importantly, this does not look like a deal that would move immediately. PSG’s own stance would shape the pace of any development, and Liverpool are unlikely to force the issue early if there is no opening. That sense of caution came through clearly: “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.”

Why Liverpool should monitor this deal closely

For now, this belongs in the category of plausible rather than pressing. Yet those are often the deals that become significant later in the window. Liverpool’s recruitment model has long favoured patience, timing and the ability to act when market conditions shift. If PSG soften their position, and if Liverpool decide an additional centre-back is required before the season begins, Zabarnyi looks like a name with genuine substance behind it.

In a summer where the focus may naturally drift towards more glamorous targets, this is the sort of potential move that could prove every bit as important. Liverpool do not need to buy for the sake of it, but they do need to protect a key area of the squad. Zabarnyi, on the evidence available, appears to fit that brief very neatly.

Our View

From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this is exactly the kind of report that feels worth paying attention to. It may not have the noise of a superstar winger story, but centre-back is a position where the club simply cannot afford to be casual. There is quality there, of course, but there is also uncertainty. Van Dijk remains immense, Gomez can be excellent when fit, and there is understandable excitement around younger options, yet asking everything to fall perfectly into place over a long season feels optimistic.

Zabarnyi would make sense because he looks like a player who could come in and genuinely compete straight away. He knows the league, he knows the demands of English football, and the coaching connection with Iraola gives the idea extra credibility. That matters, especially in a summer where the head coach will want players capable of adapting quickly to what he wants.

The biggest attraction is probably the age-profile. At 23, this is not a short-term patch-up. It would be a move aimed at both the present and the next few years. If Liverpool can secure that kind of defender for around £34m to £38m, it feels like smart business rather than a gamble. Supporters will rightly want major signings in attack, but strengthening the spine of the team can be just as decisive. If this opportunity opens up, it is one the club should take very seriously.

Source: David Lynch on Redmen TV