Tottenham in hunt to sign Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi, his ‘speed’ could delight Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham could look to raid one of the Premier League’s in-form clubs as they set their sights on AFC Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi.
It is clear for everyone to see that Spurs are in desperate need of some defensive reinforcements. However, the club don’t just need any new defenders, they need defenders who can play Ange Postecoglou’s style of football effectively.
Many of those still at the club are accustomed to the previous regimes of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho, and with the exceptions of Cristian Romero and summer signing Micky van de Ven, there are very few defenders at Hotspur Way who can play in Postecoglou’s possession-based style of football which operates with a high-line.
With this in mind, Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing one of Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth defenders, with the club currently flying high after recent victories and clean sheets against the likes of Newcastle United and Manchester United.
As reported in the Sunday Mirror’s print edition (10 December, page 68), the club are tracking 21-year-old Zabarnyi, who joined the Cherries in January 2022 from Dynamo Kyiv in a deal worth £20million.
Before his switch to the Vitality Stadium, the north London side tried to do a deal for the central defender and could look to return for him once more, although Bournemouth currently have no interest in selling the Ukrainian.
Nonetheless, should Daniel Levy be able to tempt the South Coast club into a deal, then Spurs would certainly have a promising defender on their hands with some of Zabarnyi’s numbers demonstrating his potential and ability to play for Postecoglou.
The Australian is someone who likes his defenders to be comfortable on the ball, and according to fbref, the Bournemouth man is in the top 17 per cent of his positional peers in the Premier League this season for the number of take-ons completed (0.44 per 90).
Furthermore, his position once again in the top 17 per cent of Premier League defenders for the number of tackles he has made in the middle third (0.69 per 90) showcases a player who is comfortable operating further up the pitch.
While there are signs he is a player who could currently fit in at the club, supporters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would need to be patient with the young defender, as there are areas of his game which still require work, something his current manager highlighted with his recent comments.
Speaking to the Daily Echo (20 November), Iraola was quoted as saying, “I think defensively he is very good in duels.
“I think for someone with his strength, he is quite comfortable, even if he is far (from his goal). He can follow the forwards far because he also has the speed.
“Like all the centre-backs and all the keepers, he will sometimes make mistakes. We know this. He is very young.”
This combination of potential and mistakes was on display in the defender’s most recent Premier League appearances. Firstly, during his side’s 2-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 6 December, Zabarnyi made seven clearances, one interception and two tackles as he helped his side to a clean sheet (Sofascore).
However, alongside those relatively impressive numbers, he only managed to win one of his five ground duels, and two of his six aerial duels while also being dribbled past twice. On top of that, his passing numbers left a lot to be desired, as he completed just 64 per cent of the passes he attempted.
It was a similar story against Manchester United. Although the Spurs target was a huge part of his side’s historic 3-0 victory by shining defensively with his five clearances, three blocked shots, two interceptions and two tackles, he once again managed to win just two of his five ground duels, two of his seven aerial duels and was dribbled past once.
Regardless, there is certainly enough to suggest that Zabarnyi is a player worth taking a punt on, and his raw potential coupled with Postecoglou’s management style could potentially see him moulded into a fine Premier League defender.
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