Chelsea have reportedly added Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi to their list of potential defensive targets ahead of the January transfer window.
Zabarnyi has been highly impressive since joining the Cherries from Dynamo Kyiv for around £24 million in January 2023, and has featured in all 11 of their Premier League matches this season.
The 22-year-old Ukraine international, who was on the radar of Premier League giants Arsenal, extended his contract at the Vitality Stadium last summer and is now tied to the club until 2029.
However, despite penning a new deal with the Cherries, it seems that Zabarnyi is still being tracked by clubs in England, including the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
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Chelsea monitoring Zabarnyi ahead of January transfer window
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are keen to sign Zabarnyi and bring him to Stamford Bridge in January, with head coach Enzo Maresca being a 'huge fan' of the young centre-back.
The report adds that the Blues' boss is prepared to make space for the Ukrainian despite already having more than 10 defenders currently in the squad.
Maresca's side have kept only two clean sheets in 11 Premier League matches this season, which has increased speculation around their need for defensive reinforcements.
It is understood that while Bournemouth have no intention to offload the 22-year-old, they may be willing to consider allowing him to depart for a transfer fee in the region of £50m.
Chelsea will face Bournemouth in 10 games time, which will fall right in the middle of the transfer window, and that could provide the perfect opportunity for the Blues to assess the Ukrainian defender's suitability.
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Other defensive targets on Chelsea shortlist
While Chelsea may be keeping an eye on Zabarnyi, he is not the only player on their defensive radar; they are also reportedly considering a move for Benfica's Tomas Araujo.
Reports suggest that the Blues have "made contact" with Benfica regarding a potential move for Araujo, who shares the same age and position as Bournemouth's Zabarnyi.
However, it is believed that the Primeira Liga outfit is standing firm on their £83m release clause, which led Chelsea to back off from pursuing a move for him last summer.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said: "Chelsea are actively monitoring the centre-back market. Let's see if it will be January or summer.
"They considered Tomas Araujo in the last days of the summer just gone but Benfica were not selling. Chelsea are interested in several players!"
Devesh Jaganath
