Chelsea eyeing Marc Guehi return and Dean Huijsen breakthrough
Chelsea are aiming for a massive defensive overhaul in incredible double swoop for £90 million Crystal Palace starlet Marc Guehi and Juventus prodigy Dean Huijsen. With the summer transfer market looming, it looks as though the Blues are eager to reinforce their defence with a mix of Premier League know-how, and European promise.
Marc Guehi, an academy product from Cobham, left Chelsea in 2021 for Crystal Palace, where he has blossomed into one of the most capable Premier League centre-backs. His cool head, reading of the game and leadership have caught the attention of several big guns. Chelsea do have a buy-back clause in place since selling him, so although they can’t demand a fee for him, they’re in a strong negotiating position if they want to bring him back. It is believed Palace would not budge at less than £50 million.
Meanwhile, Dean Huijsen has also caught Chelsea’s eye after a good loan spell at AS Roma. The 19-year-old Spanish-Dutch defender who is owned by Juventus has displayed maturity beyond his years with a quality aerial presence, accurate distribution and brave positioning. Juventus are believed to be willing to sell for the right fee, and expect to receive around £35-40 million.
Chelsea’s pursuit of both defenders is part of a broader plan to reconstruct their defence with youth and flexibility. Thiago Silva is due to leave at the end of the season, meanwhile, and questions hang over the futures of Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr. The club is looking for long-term defensive foundations, and Guehi and Huijsen fit the bill in every way tactically and financially.
Strategic depth for Chelsea’s evolving backline
A Marc Guehi Dean Huijsen double swoop would not only offer sufficient cover to Chelsea’s defensive options, but would also fit with the club’s new transfer ethic of targeting young and high-ceiling talents. Guehi, now a senior England international, offers Premier League-hardened resilience. At 23, he represents that combination of experience and the idea of a player who has room to grow, especially in a structured system.
Dean Huijsen, on the other hand, presents a high-upside bet. Malaga academy product and Juventus academy graduate, the center-back has been adaptable in Serie A and has gained plaudits for performances under Daniele De Rossi at Roma for his positional sense and composure at the back. The two defenders complement each other and offer different skills sets, with Guehi offering physical reliability and leadership, and Huijsen offering technical flair and a progressive passing range.
But Chelsea aren’t the only side in the running. Manchester United, Tottenham, and Newcastle have also shown interest in Guehi, while Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are monitoring Huijsen. The Blues must act quickly and decisively if they hope to secure both players before rival clubs get involved.
*Transfer News*
🔴🔴🔴Manchester United have Dean Huijsen, Goncalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande, Marc Guehi and Jarrad Branthwaite on their watchlist, called by Dean Jones via GMS.🧐#MUFC plan for a new centre-back in the summer. pic.twitter.com/Xc2uRA3Yif
— MUMU Football (@MUMUfootball) February 10, 2025
Author’s Opinion
This aforementioned double chase for Marc Guehi and Dean Huijsen sounds like clever, forward-thinking business by Chelsea. The club have come under fire in recent years for spending without a plan, but this €90m investment seems a much more thoughtfully considered one. Guehi provides leadership and familiarity from having gone through the Chelsea youth ranks. Huijsen offers potential world-class quality if nurtured properly.
It’s a scare commodity in this day and age of the transfer market. Chelsea seem to be looking for exactly that. But these aren’t just signings for now — they’re also moves for the future. With Silva leaving a gap and several squad players dubious, this could be the re-construction of Chelsea’s defence for the next five, seven years.
Of course, execution will be key. The transfer market is unpredictable, and competition is fierce. But if Chelsea land both Marc Guehi and Dean Huijsen, they’ll be sending a clear message: the rebuild isn’t slowing down—it’s just getting smarter.
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