Manchester United have invested big money on centre backs over the years but may still invest more this summer.
Ruben Amorim is no doubt desperate to bring attacking reinforcements to Manchester United at the end of the season.
United need more goals in Amorim’s team and it’s no great surprise to see attacking players prominently linked.
Hugo Ekitike is thought to be on United’s wish list with the Eintracht Frankfurt hitman continuing to shine in the Bundesliga.
United fancy signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons too with the attacking midfielder viewed as a potential summer target.
The focus appears to be on attacking signings but United may well look for defensive signings too.
Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Photo by Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Manchester United target Dean Huijsen mentored by Matthijs de Ligt
United signed Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro last summer, committing around £100million on the two defenders if all add-ons are met.
That is a significant outlay but United continue to be linked with potential defensive additions for this summer too.
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Ruben Amorim’s use of a back three may just leave United to chase another addition such as Dean Huijsen.
Reports in January suggested that United want Huijsen less than a year since Bournemouth snapped him up from Juventus.
Huijsen has shown outstanding quality this season and has enormous potential at the age of just 19.
United may well be keen and any move would see him reunite with Matthijs de Ligt.
Corriere della Sera note that Huijsen was effectively mentored by De Ligt at Juventus after he arrived from Malaga as a teenager in 2021.
Both are physical centre backs and both were born in the Netherlands – though Huijsen has chosen to represent Spain.
The comparisons even resulted in Huijsen being dubbed ‘the new De Ligt’, but he played that down – whilst praising De Ligt’s physical power.
“Does it put pressure on me to be considered the new De Ligt? No, not at all,” said Huijsen, as quoted by Spazio J.
“Matthijs is a very good player, so I can’t complain. If I can take something from him, it’s his strength – his physique is not normal,” he added.
Agent Alex Santisteban was quoted by Bianconera News as saying that Huijsen was ‘inspired’ by De Ligt alongside the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Sergio Ramos and Virgil van Dijk.
It’s clear that Huijsen thinks highly of De Ligt and that the United defender played a key role in his development with a United reunion at least under consideration.
Liverpool may be ready to move for Dean Huijsen
United will have a watching brief on Huijsen and will have certainly been impressed with his displays this season.
The problem is that United are not exactly alone in that regard and Liverpool are now interested too.
iNews report that Liverpool are ready to pay Huijsen’s £50million release clause whilst also targeting Cherries teammate Milos Kerkez.
Beating the Reds to Huijsen’s signature won’t be easy, especially with Arne Slot’s side on the verge of winning the Premier League title.
Maybe that connection to De Ligt can help United, but it’s a big ask to win transfer races like this with no guarantee of European action at Old Trafford right now.