Bournemouth are pursuing Lille centre-back Bafodé Diakité as a replacement for Illia Zabarnyi, who is expected to join Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth nearly €70 million (£61 million). Talks over add-ons are ongoing, with the Ukraine defender poised to depart for the French capital.
Zabarnyi’s exit would take Bournemouth’s summer sales past £150 million, following the departures of Milos Kerkez to Liverpool and Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid. The Cherries have already looked to Ligue 1 for a replacement for Kerkez, signing Adrien Truffert, and now hope to secure Diakité, a regular starter for Lille last season.
Diakité, 24, has also attracted interest from Premier League rivals, including Sunderland. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is seeking two new defenders after Huijsen’s exit. The club tracked Nathan Zézé, but the 20-year-old joined Saudi Pro League side Neom from Nantes last month, and they hold an interest in Chelsea’s 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong.
Meanwhile, Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier is primed to join PSG, potentially becoming Luis Enrique’s new No. 1 and casting doubt on Gianluigi Donnarumma’s future. Elsewhere, West Ham have agreed an £18 million deal for Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, while Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is joining Besiktas after the Turkish club triggered his £9 million release clause.
