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Published Jun 2, 2026, 5:20 PM GMT+1
Emilio is an experienced football journalist who has worked at Football FanCast for over six years.
After graduating with first-class honours from the University of Central Lancashire in 2019, it didn't take long for Emilio to clinch his first job in journalism at Snack Media, now Valnet.
Emilio has written for a host of the company's biggest past and current football news websites - Vital Football, The Transfer Tavern and Football FanCast.
Emilio's strengths include the intricacies of football transfers, while he particularly enjoys writing about the business side of football. He has covered Tottenham Hotspur on a weekly basis for a number of years now, developing a deep understanding of the culture and what Lilywhites fans engage with.
In his spare time, you can find Emilio travelling the world, or even in a boxing ring.
Liverpool have held initial talks to sign a PSG star who incoming new boss Andoni Iraola absolutely loves, according to reports.
Liverpool agree deal with Andoni Iraola to become new boss
The Reds' managerial reshuffle appears to be nearing a conclusion, with Iraola increasingly expected to become the club's next head coach following the dismissal of Arne Slot.
Multiple reports today have indicated that Liverpool are closing in on an agreement with the former Bournemouth boss after opening formal talks in recent days.
The Spaniard emerged as the leading candidate almost immediately after Slot's departure, and negotiations are understood to have progressed very quickly.
Iraola left Bournemouth after guiding the club to a historic sixth-place Premier League finish and Europa League qualification, while Liverpool's hierarchy seemingly view him as the ideal figure to lead the next phase of the club's project.
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Liverpool are planning for the 2026/27 season after sacking Arne Slot.
With a new manager seemingly on the way, Liverpool are also stepping up plans in the transfer market.
One position attracting particular attention is central defence, where the Reds are assessing several options ahead of the new campaign, including Tottenham's Micky van de Ven.
While Virgil van Dijk remains a key figure at Anfield, Liverpool are believed to be planning for both the short and long term as they look to refresh parts of the squad after a disappointing 2025/26 season, especially with Ibrahima Konate now on his way to Real Madrid.
According to DaveOCKOP, ex-Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi has emerged as a potential target.
Liverpool hold initial talks over signing Illia Zabarnyi
The report claims Liverpool have already held initial talks regarding the Ukraine international as they assess whether a deal could be possible this summer.
At this stage there is no indication that formal negotiations are underway, but the exploratory discussions reportedly taking place does point towards genuine interest behind the scenes.
It is also claimed that this comes after Liverpool were offered the chance to strike a deal for the 23-year-old.
Zabarnyi's stock has risen considerably over the last three seasons.
The 'incredible' centre-back became one of Bournemouth's most important players after arriving there from Dynamo Kyiv in January 2023.
Calm in possession, strong aerially and comfortable defending large spaces, he developed into a cornerstone of Iraola's side for years before sealing a £57m move to PSG last summer.
That connection naturally adds another layer to the story.
If Iraola completes his move to Liverpool as expected, he would already have extensive knowledge of Zabarnyi's strengths and character.
The defender was a regular starter throughout his impressive tenure at Bournemouth and became one of the first names on the teamsheet under the Spanish coach.
Liverpool's interest also fits their wider recruitment model.
At 23, Zabarnyi is young enough to develop further while already possessing significant Premier League experience.
He has also played regularly for the Ukrainian national team and has shown an ability to perform under pressure despite his age.
Iraola has piled praise on Zabarnyi before, admitting how much he adored the player during their time together on the south coast.
“Zaba for me is even easier to explain, I think,” Iraola told the Daily Echo in 2025.
“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.”
During his debut season at the Parc des Princes, Zabarnyi was a regular domestically as PSG clinched another Ligue 1 title, making 28 top flight appearances.
However, in Europe, he didn't make a single Champions League appearance past the knockout rounds until a 15-minute cameo against Arsenal in the final.
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