Chelsea and Liverpool are leading the race for the signature of Arsenal and Real Madrid defensive target Dean Huijsen.
Dean Huijsen is expected to be on the move this summer, as some of the biggest clubs are gearing up to secure the Spanish defensive sensation’s services. Arsenal, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been linked with the Bournemouth centre-back. But, according to a report from GiveMeSport, the Blues and the Reds are front-runners to sign him.
Huijsen left Juventus and joined the Cherries last summer in search of a more prominent role. They forked out just £12 million to add him to their squad, and he has ended up being one of their standout performers this season.
The 20-year-old defender has featured in a total of 26 league games, and his consistent performances in the heart of the defence even helped him get called up to the Spanish national team. He now finds himself on the wishlist of some of the biggest clubs in the world, and a departure in the summer looks certain.
He has a £50 million release clause in his contract, which will be active in the summer, and several clubs are already preparing to trigger it. Bournemouth are unlikely to stand in his way, meaning there will be minimal negotiations, with interested clubs ready to meet the clause outright.
Premier League giants want to sign Huijsen
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have all been keeping a close eye on the Spanish international. They are quite impressed with his exceptional rise and have held talks with the player’s camp of late. Clubs are pushing to strike a pre-agreement as they look to beat the competition to his signature.
The Reds might have managed to extend Virgil van Dijk’s stay until 2027, but they are still looking to sign a young centre-back who can replace him in the long run. Huijsen could end up partnering with the Dutch international in the initial years as Ibrahima Konate’s future is up in the air.
He will only have a year left on his deal in the summer, and there has been no progress regarding a new deal so far. Meanwhile, the Blues are also looking to add more depth to their backline. While they have Levi Colwill playing as the left-sided centre-back, they want another option in that position.
With Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi’s futures uncertain and Wesley Fofana injured, the Blues want to bring in a versatile centre-back. Huijsen is an ideal fit for their plans and their project that revolves around signing the best young players.
Liverpool and Chelsea are front-runners
Liverpool and Chelsea are both more advanced than other clubs in the race for his signature, and they do consider him a priority target for the summer. But Arsenal also have him on their wishlist. While they have a dependable defensive pairing in Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, Mikel Arteta seeks more depth and quality.
However, if Arsenal do make a move for Huijsen, he will need to carefully assess the potential game time on offer compared to other interested clubs. Even Real Madrid have been linked with the 20-year-old. While they would love to have a young Spanish centre-back in their ranks, they are yet to make a move.
Los Blancos might not prioritise a move for a centre-back this summer. As a result, Huijsen looks set to continue in the Premier League, as clubs in England are pushing hard to get a deal over the line as soon as possible.
