PSG pushing to sign Bournemouth star with £59m price tag set | OneFootball

Zabarnyi to PSG Stalls as Bournemouth Stand Firm

Stalemate in negotiations

Paris Saint-Germain’s pursuit of Ilya Zabarnyi has entered a holding pattern, with talks between the French champions and Bournemouth showing no significant progress over the past 24 hours. As reported by L’ÉQUIPE, discussions remain ongoing but are yet to break the deadlock. The central defender, currently in Toronto with the Ukrainian national team ahead of a friendly against New Zealand, remains a target for PSG ahead of their Club World Cup preparations.

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Club World Cup deadline looms

With the Paris squad due to depart for Los Angeles on Tuesday, the clock is ticking. PSG are believed to have made a formal offer exceeding €50 million, yet Bournemouth remain resolute, holding out for a figure closer to €70 million. The Cherries are in no rush, aware that time is on their side as they search for a suitable replacement.

If an agreement is not reached by Tuesday, the transfer could be delayed further. Any deal completed after that point would not be finalised until 16 June, the official reopening date of the transfer window. More crucially for PSG, it would mean Zabarnyi would not be eligible for the Club World Cup, a setback for a club eager to strengthen defensively on the global stage.

Player caught in limbo

Zabarnyi’s situation is increasingly one of isolation. “He must be finding time dragging in Canada,” L’ÉQUIPE reported, capturing the limbo the 21-year-old faces as the clubs haggle over the financials. PSG, while still interested, have so far shown little willingness to meet Bournemouth’s valuation.

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Window of opportunity narrowing

Should Tuesday’s deadline pass without resolution, this transfer story could extend deep into the summer, with little urgency from Bournemouth’s side and growing frustration in Paris.

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This stand-off could be viewed as a quiet victory. While the notion of turning down upwards of €50 million might raise eyebrows, the club’s stance reflects ambition and strategic control, not stubbornness.

This isn’t the Bournemouth of old, simply cashing in on any decent offer from Europe’s elite. It is a club asserting its own terms, valuing talent not just by fee but by role, leadership and continuity. Zabarnyi has been central to stabilising the defence, and losing him without an adequate replacement could seriously derail plans under Andoni Iraola.

Of course, there’s the lurking financial reality. Should PSG improve their offer, perhaps with a structured deal including achievable add-ons, it would be tempting. But for now, supporters will back the club’s approach. It’s not just about the money. It’s about setting a precedent that Bournemouth won’t be bullied.

Fans are watching, hopeful but wary. Keep the player, and there’s relief. Sell for the right price, and there’s understanding. But cave in? That would feel like a step backwards. For now, the Cherries are holding their nerve.