Dean Huijsen is set to have his pick of clubs when the transfer window reopens this summer. The centre-back has become a regular for Bournemouth at just 19 years old, and the Cherries may be powerless to keep hold of him once his £50million release clause becomes active at the end of the season.
Unsurprisingly given his rapid rise, top sides are lining up to have a crack at signing Huijsen. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all believed to have shown interest, with Arne Slot’s Reds reportedly the most serious about signing the Amsterdam-born talent as a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.
However, according to AS, Huijsen has his heart set on a different destination. Though he was born in the Netherlands, his family relocated to Spain when he was five years old, and he earned full Spanish citizenship last year.
Huijsen represented the Netherlands at various youth levels but he is now a regular with Spain’s Under-21s, and he is firmly in contention to receive his first senior call-up on Friday. The report states that Huijsen also wants to play club football in his adopted home.
Real Madrid are following his development closely, and the teenage defender ‘dreams’ of pulling on the famous white shirt at the Bernabeu.
Huijsen’s Premier League suitors may therefore have their work cut out if they are banking on signing him this summer. Liverpool, as the champions elect, are presumed to hold an advantage over their English rivals as sporting director Richard Hughes was involved in bringing Huijsen to Bournemouth.
Ex-Cherries transfer chief Hughes was reportedly taken by his performances on loan at Roma last season, where he made 13 Serie A appearances. Huijsen spent three years on the books at Juventus, but he only played one senior game before Bournemouth snapped him up for £12.6m.
Chelsea are well catered for at centre-back but United could be left short in that department if they do not take action in the summer window, with Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof both approaching the end of their contracts.
Liverpool are at risk of losing Van Dijk, while Tottenham, who are also believed to be tracking Huijsen, have proven themselves flimsy at the back this season without the starting duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.