Tottenham ready to make €70m offer – Player has firm ideas about move

⚽ Tottenham Set to Launch a €70 Million Bid: What’s Going On?

The Scoop: Tottenham Ready to Make a €70m Offer

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing a €70 million bid to sign Illia Zabarnyi, the highly regarded 22-year-old centre‑back currently at Bournemouth. According to journalist Duncan Castles, Spurs have made a formal offer matching Bournemouth’s valuation—signaling serious intent and readiness to break their club‑record fee for a defender. TBR Football+3FourFourTwo+3FourFourTwo+3PSG Talk+4To The Lane And Back+4FourFourTwo+4

Bournemouth’s chairman Bill Foley is said to have set that price, and Tottenham are ready to pull the trigger. This would surpass the fee paid last summer for Dominic Solanke (£55 m plus add-ons). To The Lane And Back

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👤 Player Perspective: Where Does Zabarnyi Stand?

Zabarnyi’s View: Still Leaning Toward PSG

Despite Spurs’ readiness to match Bournemouth’s asking price, **Illia Zabarnyi reportedly prefers a move to Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG). Sources indicate he has agreed personal terms and is actively pushing for that transfer. Tottenham remain interested, but he is not currently engaging directly with Spurs negotiations. To The Lane And Back

This confirms that while Spurs are prepared to meet financial demands, the player himself is yet to be convinced—suggesting Leicester-level complications. PSG still hold an edge as the preferred destination. PSG Talk+3teamtalk.com+3Reddit+3

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🧠 Wider Context: Spurs’ Summer Strategy Unpacked

Why Tottenham Are Targeting Zabarnyi

• Defensive Reinforcement: If Cristian Romero departs for Atletico Madrid, Spurs need a swift, long-term replacement. Zabarnyi, noted for reliability and pace, fits the bill. football365.com+5To The Lane And Back+5FourFourTwo+5
• Ambition and Spending: Offloading key figures hasn’t slowed Spurs: chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange are now pursuing high-profile signings, including this centre-back—highlighting willingness to sling big fees. teamtalk.com+1teamtalk.com+1
• Champions League Entry: After Europa League success, Tottenham’s qualification for next season’s Champions League adds weight to their bid—offering European football to entice top targets. teamtalk.comFourFourTwospurs-web.com

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📊 Breaking Down the Situation

Element	Details
Target	Illia Zabarnyi (22, Bournemouth, Ukraine)
Offer	€70 million (matching Bournemouth’s valuation)
Player Preference	PSG is top priority; Spurs must persuade him otherwise
Strategic Fit	Replacement for Romero; reflects Levy/Lange spending vision
Competition	PSG leading; Newcastle, Chelsea, Liverpool also interested

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🧩 Related Spurs Transfer Talk

• Lo Celso Connection: Fabrizio Romano and others have suggested Tottenham are prepared to raise their bid for Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), up to €70 m, to bring the Argentine midfielder back to north London. Lo Celso is apparently amenable to the switch. PSG Talk+4To The Lane And Back+4PSG Talk+4bavarianfootballworks.com+2PSG Talk+2PSG Talk+2FourFourTwoteamtalk.com
• Antoine Semenyo: Spurs may also pursue Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo for around £70 m. Semenyo, one of Levy’s preferred targets, favors Champions League clubs and might prefer Tottenham over the likes of Manchester United. His agents are in contact and Levy has met them. spurs-web.com+2teamtalk.com+2teamtalk.com+2
• Mathys Tel: Bayern’s young striker is still of interest to Spurs, with a €60 m offer reportedly on the table. While not €70 m level, his ongoing negotiations reflect the club’s higher spending appetite. thesun.co.uk+4Reddit+4Reddit+4

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🧨 Overriding Club Dynamics

1. Levy vs Frank

Chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange are driving the pursuit of big-ticket signings. New boss Thomas Frank is reportedly more aligned with Brentford lineage (e.g. Bryan Mbeumo), but Levy appears to be charting a different course, elevating Tottenham’s spending ambitions. thesun.co.uk+3teamtalk.com+3teamtalk.com+3

2. Strong Competition

Paris Saint‑Germain remains the front-runner for Zabarnyi—reportedly ahead in talks and backed by Champions League prestige. Newcastle, Chelsea, Liverpool are also said to be watching the situation. PSG TalkPSG TalkFourFourTwo

3. Timing & Market Conditions

Negotiations are in early-mid window phase (late July 2025). PSG have already submitted two offers near €60 m, though Bournemouth stand firm at €70 m. Tottenham’s willingness to match suggests urgency to wrap up a deal before rival clubs escalate bidding. PSG Talk+1PSG Talk+1

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🚦 Possible Outcomes

Scenario A: Sign Zabarnyi for €70m

• Spurs agree deal terms, win player over PSG.
• Would be club record for defender.
• Replaces Romero and strengthens spine ahead of Champions League.

Scenario B: PSG Wins Race

• Zabarnyi sticks with PSG preference, Spurs lose out.
• Tottenham may pivot to Antoine Semenyo or Lo Celso as alternatives.
• Levy still committed to high-end acquisitions.

Scenario C: Negotiations Prolong

• PSG and Bournemouth stalemate persists.
• Spurs stay in mix—outbidding other Premier League suitors.
• Player views may shift by August depending on clearer paths.

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🧠 Final Word: What It All Means

Tottenham’s willingness to prepare a €70 million offer for Illia Zabarnyi marks a major turning point in their recent transfer approach—suggesting they are ready to spend at a level only seen in elite European competition. This reflects increased ambition following continental success and managerial restructuring.

However, the player’s own firm preference for PSG, backed by personal terms already agreed, poses a clear obstacle. Spurs will need to deliver both footballing ambition and clarity on their squad role to win him over.

Alternatives like Semenyo or Lo Celso remain plausible backups—but none match the central defensive need, or the player quality, that Zabarnyi represents.

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✅ TL;DR

Tottenham are preparing a €70 million bid for Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi, matching his valuation. Clubs like PSG remain the favourite as Zabarnyi reportedly prefers Paris and has personal terms lined up. Spurs will need to win a difficult negotiation to beat their rivals and signal serious intent behind their Champions League ambitions.