Illya Zabarnyi is being watched by Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur, but former Ukrainian Premier League boss Vyacheslav Grozny tells FanDay that Pep Guardiola’s champions Manchester City should also pursue the Dynamo Kyiv defender.
Amid a humiliating 2-0 EFL Cup quarterfinal loss to Southampton, Guardiola pulled England star Kyle Walker off after just 45 minutes of the “Kyle Walker at center-back trial.” Walker was left gasping for air due to Sekou Mara’s dust while the Saints prepared their masterfully orchestrated opening.
However, you might argue that Walker’s inclusion in an unfamiliar central role showed a lack of real depth available at the centre of Guardiola’s backline given that John Stones and Ruben Dias were both nursing minor injuries.
Grozny believes that City could do much worse than to sign Zabarnyi since the 20-year-old international from Ukraine has the talent and technical skill to succeed in a Guardiola club.
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“This is the most promising Ukrainian central defender. I won’t be surprised if Zabarnyi is in demand this winter,”
says Groznyi, a former Dnipro and Spartak Moscow coach.
“I think Dynamo can sell him for very good money to a big club.
“They won’t even talk to the mid-table peasants. Clubs such as Man City should pay attention to Zabarnyi. He is no worse than Stones, and playing with a partner like Dias (would be) fantastic. I really want to call Pep Guardiola and recommend Zabarnyi to him.”
“He has a great first pass, he’s perfect positionally, does not commit fouls. It will be easier for him to play for top European teams than at Dynamo, because there are high-level players.”
Antonio Conte’s Tottenham have mentioned Zabarnyi as a transfer in recent months, despite the fact that Dynamo Kyiv president Igor Surkis quashed rumors that Spurs made a £25 million offer toward the close of the summer transfer season.
After selling Wesley Fofana to Chelsea in August, Leicester reportedly inquired about Zabarnyi, according to Ukrainian journalist Viktor Vatkso. The Foxes decided to sign Wout Faes instead, after failing to defeat Dinamo Kyiv.
Leicester could now focus on adding more defensive players. After all, Caglar Soyuncu is almost certain to join La Liga powerhouse Atletico Madrid. Soyuncu and Diego Simeone’s side have already reached an agreement, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The deal with Leicester for the Turkish international expires in July.
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