Former Ukraine coach Yozhef Sabo believes Tottenham Hotspur may need to pay even more than 30 million euros to bring Dynamo Kiev wonderkid Illya Zabarnyi to the Premier League, speaking to 1927 Kiev.
Earlier this month, The Athletic claimed that Spurs may be willing to part with ‘Romero money’ in order to bring a left-sided centre-half to North London.
That is to say, a similar fee to the one they invested in the outstanding Cristian Romero, arguably the signing of the season in 2021/22, some 12 months ago.
Now, a fee in the region of around £40 million would seem reasonable if we’re talking about a Pau Torres, an Alessandro Bastoni or a Sven Botman. Zabarnyi, however, doesn’t even turn 20 until September. The teenager only made his senior debut in 2020/21 and, though he can play as a left-sided centre-half, remains more comfortable on his right foot.
Nonetheless, Football London claim that Tottenham are watching Zabarnyi with increasing interest. Whether they are willing to invest ‘Romero money’ in the 19-year-old, however, remains to be seen.
Tottenham like Ukraine starlet Illya Zabarnyi
“Zabarnyi is a good player. He is serious about football and has to grow. He must be bought,” says Sabo, encouraging Spurs to firm up their interest in a man who has 21 international caps under his belt already.
“I think he is more expensive (than £25 million). It is clear that he is a football player. He plays great, has speed.
“(Dynamo Kiev) need to sell him. He will have a completely different mood and motivation (at Tottenham). In a year or two, Zabarnyi will cost 50 million euros.”
Tottenham, then, could nick in ahead of the curve, even if £25 million is still a staggering sum for a teenager with only a couple of seasons of regular first-team football under his belt.
Spurs have already brought in Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan and are closing in on Brighton’s Yves Bissouma and Middlesbrough’s Djed Spence.
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