Arsenal and Chelsea have faced a blow in their pursuit of Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, who has a £50m release clause.
The Gunners are likely to sign a defender in the summer in order to ease some pressure on the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba, who have had a heavy workload at the Emirates this season.
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Plus, the likes of Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel have all seen major injury problems this season, meaning that the Gunners are likely to add depth at the back for Mikel Arteta.
One such name that Arsenal have been linked with is Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen, who has impressed for Andoni Iralola’s side this season. Huijsen has made 30 Premier League appearances for the Cherries, and at just 20, has established himself as one of the most promising defenders in world football.
His performances also caught the eye of Chelsea and Liverpool, but the Premier League teams could find it hard to tempt him to stay in England, due to reported interest from Real Madrid. According to reports in Spain, Huijsen is prepared to reject offers from Chelsea and Arsenal in favour of a move to Madrid.
Marca reports that Huijsen’s father has told Real Madrid that they would be his preferred destination this summer, meaning that if the La Liga giants are to offer for the 20-year-old, then it would be difficult for Arsenal to secure his signature.
Real Madrid move for Huijsen COULD benefit Arsenal
Although it sounds like bad news due to Arsenal likely missing out on signing Huijsen, if Real Madrid do move for the Spanish defender, it could boost the Gunners’ chances of keeping William Saliba.
The Frenchman has been subject to transfer interest from Madrid, but Arsenal are hoping that he will sign a long-term contract at the Emirates to keep him in Arteta’s back line for years to come.
Saliba’s current deal at Arsenal expires in June 2027, but Arsenal are hoping that he will agree to stay with the club for many more years to come, especially considering his superb form over the past two seasons.
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