​Richard Hughes seems set to depart Liverpool by the start of the 2026-27 season. Talk of the Englishman seeking an exit from Anfield has been buzzing for some time now. Most people assumed his primary workload was completed last summer, but since the majority of his signings failed to make a meaningful impact, the former Bournemouth man is again looking to recruit new talent.
However, given that this is likely Hughes’ final window overseeing Liverpool’s transfers, he will probably want to depart with a statement. It feels like the perfect parting gesture from Hughes to Liverpool may have just emerged. One of the club’s most pressing issues at the moment is their defensive setup. The Anfield club struggled to keep clean sheets last season, and with Ibrahima Konate now at Real Madrid, there is another gap to fill.
Indeed, players like Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni have felt like near-new signings, but with Liverpool currently boasting only four senior centre-backs and one of them being Joe Gomez, the position still appears vulnerable. So, even though over the past few weeks there hasn’t been much chatter about potential centre-back targets, the Reds likely need to revisit a previously explored option.
Illia Zabarnyi, who had established himself as one of Bournemouth’s top defenders before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, is a name to consider. He spent two and a half seasons with the Cherries, primarily operating as a centre-back, though he has been deployed at right-back on occasion. The Ukraine international is only 23 years old, meaning there is substantial room for growth, even though he has already proven himself to be an outstanding player. Last season, he appeared in 37 games for PSG, but many of those appearances came as a substitute, which could push him to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Liverpool have shown interest in Zabarnyi in the past, and they could make another push now. Like Jacquet and Leoni, Zabarnyi remains very young, but his achievements—two Champions League titles and regular involvement in both the Premier League and Ligue 1—suggest he is currently a level above them. It is unclear how much a deal for the 23-year-old would cost, but with Jan Paul van Hecke and Luka Vuskovic off the market, there aren’t many other standout centre-back options remaining for Liverpool.
Indeed, they could have pursued Nico Schlotterbeck, but with him now injured and predominantly left-sided in his play, a transfer would be less sensible at present. Zabarnyi would likely command a substantial fee and would require convincing to move to Anfield, but if such a deal could be done, he would slot well into Iraola’s plans for Liverpool. Having five senior centre-backs might seem excessive, but the realities of the season and the depth required to compete on multiple fronts demand a robust backline.