CHERRIES have agreed a deal with Dynamo Kyiv to sign defender Illia Zabarnyi, the Daily Echo understands.

It is now a race against time to get the transfer over the line on deadline day, with a medical booked in for the 20-year-old.

A fee of around £24million has been reported for Zabarnyi, who has 24 caps for Ukraine.

The centre-back has won the Ukrainian league and cup with Kyiv, where he has spent his whole career.

Zabarnyi has been a key player for Dynamo Kyiv this season, making 25 appearances across domestic and European competition.

That has taken his total tally of appearances for the club to 84, with the defender’s only goal coming in a 5-0 league win over Ingulets in April 2021.

Both Zabarnyi and Sassuolo midfielder Hamed Traore are set to undergo medicals in the coming hours.