Tottenham hijack PSG transfer with stunning offer: report

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is looking to make a statement signing or two this summer
Thomas Frank may have another new player to work with at Tottenham in the near future (Image credit: Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur are ready to disrupt Paris Saint-Germain’s pursuit of a Premier League defender with an audacious offer.

It follows Spurs’ capture of Mohammed Kudus from fellow London-based side West Ham United, in a deal worth £55m.

He’s one of five permanent signings confirmed for the north London outfit so far this summer, as the club prepares for Thomas Frank’s first season in charge.

Tottenham to rival PSG for Bournemouth star

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs have a healthier budget this summer thanks to their Europa League triumph at the end of the last campaign (Image credit: Getty Images)

It’s no secret that injuries affected the Lilywhites last year, particularly in defence, with substantial absences for Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero requiring teenager Archie Gray, predominantly a midfielder by trade, to fill in.

Chairman Daniel Levy appears determined for Frank not to encounter the same problems as Ange Postecoglou and so is looking to the market to bolster the squad’s defensive options.

Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi

Bournemouth defender Ilya Zabarnyi is attracting interest from Tottenham and PSG (Image credit: Getty Images)

In that search, they have landed on Bournemouth centre-back Ilya Zabarnyi, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, who arrived in the Premier League from Dynamo Kyiv two years ago.

The report states that Champions League winners PSG are interested and have tabled offers of around €60m, which have been rejected by the Cherries.

Spurs are willing to go one better in their pursuit of the Ukraine international by preparing to offer the €70m that Bournemouth are thought to be requesting to sanction an exit.

Despite Tottenham appearing to be the top bidders as things stand, the Italian outlet goes on to reveal that PSG is Zabarnyi’s preferred option as things stand.

Tottenham target Illia Zabarnyi of Bournemouth controls the ball during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town at Vitality Stadium on March 13, 2024 in Bournemouth, England. This fixture was re-scheduled after the initial match was abandoned due to Luton Town's captain Tom Lockyer suffering a cardiac arrest after 58 minutes with the score at 1-1. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Zabarnyi already has two strong Premier League seasons under his belt and is still only 22 years old (Image credit: Getty Images)

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, while Zabarnyi is no doubt a top player, it feels like a lot of money to spend in a position where Spurs are already well-stocked.

Alongside the main pairing of Van de Ven and Romero, Spurs already the likes of Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies on the books, not to mention young trio Luka Vuskovic, Ashley Phillips and Kota Takai waiting for minutes in the wing.

The Lilywhites no doubt feel burnt by the situation they were left in last season defensively, but they no longer seem to have a problem in that department that requires a €70m solution.

Zabarnyi is valued at €42m, according to Transfermarkt.

Isaac Stacey Stronge
Freelance Writer

Isaac Stacey Stronge is a freelance football writer working for FourFourTwo, Manchester United and Football League World. He has been a season ticket holder at Stockport County throughout the Hatters’ meteoric rise from the National League North to League One and is a die-hard Paddy Madden fan.

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