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'The first big club really interested': Chelsea tried to sign £50m Real Madrid player in January claims agent

Chelsea have been linked with a couple of Real Madrid stars this year.

Both Dean Huijsen and Rodrygo were thought to have been players of interest to the Club World Cup winners.

In July, it was even claimed that Chelsea were willing to offer Christopher Nkunku and one other name to Real Madrid in exchange for Rodrygo.

As for Huijsen, his agent has confirmed that the club’s interest in him was genuine.

Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen running

Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images

Ali Barat confirms Chelsea’s January interest in Dean Huijsen

Chelsea were keen on signing Huijsen in the summer before his £50m move from Bournemouth to Real Madrid. However, their interest in the central defender goes further back than that.

According to Ali Barat, who represents Huijsen, Chelsea wanted to recruit the 20-year-old during the January transfer window. But Bournemouth were reluctant to sell, while his release clause was not yet active.

In an interview with AS, Barat said: “Chelsea wanted him, even back in January. They were the first big club really interested, but Bournemouth didn’t want to sell in January, and his release clause wasn’t active then, only in the summer.

“And of course, after playing for the national team, we had about seven big clubs: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle… They all wanted Dean, to be honest.”

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Barat also looks after Nicolas Jackson, who joined Bayern Munich on loan from Chelsea on deadline day.

The striker was part of the Bayern squad who recently beat Chelsea in the Champions League. Before the game, Jackson was seen hugging two Chelsea coaches.

Looking at the players that Enzo Maresca currently has available to him, he would love to have both Jackson and Huijsen in his squad right now.

Real Madrid team photo before Olympique de Marseille game

Photo by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images

Enzo Maresca could do with Dean Huijsen now

Levi Colwill is expected to miss most of the season following his ACL injury, and Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo have looked far from convincing of late.

While Chalobah managed to grab a goal back for Chelsea during their defeat to United, the England international and Adarabioyo have struggled defensively in recent games.

Ultimately, Huijsen would have been a great option to have now. But with the former Bournemouth man just moving to Real Madrid, Chelsea have no hope of signing him.

Marc Guehi would be a good target in January, but his most likely destination appears to be Liverpool.

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