Liverpool Eye Zabarnyi Return as PSG Bench Him

The floodlights at Anfield hum with a low, electric buzz, casting long, sharp shadows across the manicured grass. Liverpool’s four summer signings have landed, their boots kicking up dust in the training grounds, yet the air remains thick with a sense of incomplete architecture. The team is unbeaten, a statistic that glows brightly on the board, but the performances lack the jagged edge of true dominance. Andoni Iraola stands on the touchline, eyes scanning the defensive line, knowing that silverware demands more than just points. It demands solidity. It demands a spine.

Then, a signal cuts through the noise from Paris. Illia Zabarnyi, the Ukrainian defender who once wore the Bournemouth badge under Iraola’s watch, was left entirely out of the squad for the 1-0 win against Brest. Luis Enrique’s decision is a cold, hard fact: the door is open. For Liverpool, this is not merely a rumor; it is a green light, a tangible opportunity to reshape a backline that feels fragile under the weight of expectation. The January window is approaching, and the path to bringing Zabarnyi back to England has never looked clearer.

Parisian Doors Swing Open

Zabarnyi’s journey has been a steep climb, marked by bold moves and sudden plateaus. Signed from Dynamo Kyiv for around £24 million in 2023, he was a gamble that paid off quickly, proving his worth before PSG took notice. Yet, since his move to the Parc Des Princes in 2025, his role has shrunk. He played 37 games, but in the high-stakes Champions League run that secured the trophy, he started only two. His versatility as a center-back or right-back is a tactical asset, but his minutes are dwindling. Being benched against Brest is not just a lineup choice; it is a statement of exclusion.

Liverpool’s current defensive setup relies heavily on Ronald Araujo, a loan signing that adds quality but lacks permanence. If Araujo departs, the gap widens. The Reds need a defender who understands the physicality of the Premier League, someone who has already weathered its storms. Zabarnyi fits that profile. He knows the pace, the intensity, and the unforgiving nature of English football. His experience is not just a resume item; it is a survival kit that Liverpool’s young squad desperately needs.

Shared History Builds Trust

The connection between Iraola and Zabarnyi is the linchpin of this potential deal. The Spanish manager was the one who identified the raw talent in Kyiv, seeing something others missed. That early faith created a professional bond that transcends club boundaries. Iraola’s endorsement carries weight. It is not just a recommendation; it is a validation of character and capability. For a player who has felt the cold shoulder of a new manager in Paris, the warmth of a former mentor’s invitation is a powerful pull.

Yahoo Sports notes that the relationship between Liverpool and PSG is strong, paving the way for a swift negotiation. There are no bureaucratic hurdles, no hostile rivalries to navigate. Just two clubs that understand the value of talent and the mechanics of the market. If Iraola makes the call, if he tells Zabarnyi that the project at Anfield is real, the decision becomes simple. It is a return to a system that worked, a chance to reclaim a central role in a top-four contender.

January Window Opens Wide

The path forward is clear, yet the clock is ticking. Liverpool’s unbeaten run is a shield, but it is not a sword. To break through to the title, they need a defense that does not just survive but suffocates. Zabarnyi offers that intensity, that Premier League grit. The green light is on. The door in Paris is open. For Liverpool, the question is no longer if they can sign him, but how quickly they can get him back to the pitch, where the real work begins.