‘There was no offer’: President rubbishes claims of £25m Tottenham bid

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Dynamo Kiev president Igor Surkis insists that Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur did not submit a £25 million bid for Ukraine international Illya Zabarnyi, speaking to TaToTake on Telegram. 

Rumours surrounding a potential move to North London for one of the most talented young centre-halves in Eastern Europe have rumbled on in the background for much of the summer.

Tottenham’s interest in 20-year-old Zabarnyi is well documented. What is less certain, however, is how far Spurs were willing to go to get him on board before the clock struck 11 on Thursday night. 

Some reports claim that Tottenham made a £25 million bid towards the end of the window. Surkis, however, insists that such claims are merely speculation. Speculation of the baseless kind, for that matter.

“There was no offer,” the Dynamo Kiev president responds when quizzed about Spurs’ interest. “Maybe some clubs targeted him. Mandates were given to the agents, but nothing (official) reached Dynamo.” 

Tottenham like Illya Zabarnyi but have not yet made a bid

Zabarnyi, two-footed, technically-gifted and versatile enough to play on the right or the left of a back three, already has over 20 caps for the Ukrainian national team despite only leaving his teenage years behind this week. He celebrated his 20^th birthday on deadline day. 

“Zabarnyi is a good player. He is serious about football and has to grow,” says former Ukraine coach Jozhef Sabo of a rangy, two-footed centre-half who already has 22 caps at international level.

“I think he is more expensive (than £25 million). It is clear that he is a (talented) football player. He plays great, has speed. In a year or two, Zabarnyi will cost 50 million euros.”

Veteran tactician Vyacheslav Hroznyi, meanwhile, beleives that Zabarnyi is unlikely to be a Dynamo Kiev player for much longer. The very pinnacle of the game awaits him. 

“I think he will not play for Dynamo for more than a year. He’ll be bought by a European giant,” Hroznyi says.

“This defender is fast, well-balanced, technical, and plays well. He doesn’t break the rules much. If I were Pep Guardiola, I would take him to Manchester City. Why? Because they only have Ruben Dias, (as) a high-level central defender.”