Liverpool have been linked with a handful of players since Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot at the helm.
It goes without saying that the Reds need more bodies in attack, especially after Mohamed Salah’s emotional departure last season.
In defence, Ibrahima Konate’s free transfer to Real Madrid has left a void, although Jeremy Jacquet’s arrival eases the burden a little bit.
That said, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see the Reds reinforce their rearguard. And David Lynch feels it could be a familiar face in the form of Illia Zabarnyi, whom Iraola knows quite well from his Bournemouth days.
Liverpool tipped to sign Illia Zabarnyi
Zabarnyi was a key player for Iraola before moving to PSG last summer as he forged a fantastic partnership with Dean Huijsen for the Cherries.
Since his move to the French capital, it hasn’t been plain sailing for him as the likes of Marquinhos, Willian Pacho and Lucas Beraldo are ahead of him in the pecking order.
And now, Lynch feels there is a good chance of Liverpool making a move for Zabarnyi as he is a player Iraola and Richard Hughes know quite well.
“I think it’s one of those that you could see legs in,” said Lynch via Redmen TV.
“Richard Hughes will know him from his time at Bournemouth and will know everything about the player. Of course the manager will like him as well.”
Iraola feels Zabarnyi is ‘underrated’
Zabarnyi joined Bournemouth in the same summer as Iraola and played under the Spaniard for two seasons, while Hughes played a big role in securing his signature from Dynamo Kyiv.
In January 2025, Iraola described the Ukrainian central defender as an underrated member of his dressing room as he slowly grew into his own to become a central figure for the Cherries.
“Zaba for me is even easier to explain, I think,” Iraola said via Tribal Football.
“I’m not sure if we decided to change him one minute in the time I’ve been here.
“So that basically says everything about the confidence we have in him and how reliable and how robust also he is and he’s the kind of player that is very easy to coach.
“For a coach, he pays attention, he comes every day to train with a great attitude and I am enjoying also his development because now when I arrived he was a great player but quite shy.
“He didn’t talk a lot and now you see him managing everything from behind, shouting to the ones in front asking for the others and this is a show of how he’s developing and he’s becoming a more important player even for us.
“I love him personally and as a player.”
We’re not sure if this one has legs at the moment. However, if Zabarnyi becomes available, don’t put it past Liverpool to make a move for him as he is a player who is well known to Iraola and Hughes.
