Liverpool are one of several clubs interested in signing Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen this summer, with the 19-year-old believed to have a £50million release clause in his contract
Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth
Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen (right) has been tipped to move to Liverpool this summer(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Liverpool have been encouraged to spend big on "Rolls Royce" defender Dean Huijsen as the Reds consider a summer move for the Bournemouth talent. The 19-year-old Spain international has been a standout performer in the Premier League this season, attracting interest from several clubs, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, who are uncertain about Virgil van Dijk's future at Anfield.
Huijsen's contract with the Cherries reportedly includes a £50million release clause. Former Manchester United and Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster believes that, at that price, Huijsen would be a bargain for Liverpool and has the potential to fill Van Dijk's sizeable shoes.
Foster also suggested that Juventus, Huijsen's former club, would be regretting their decision to let him join Bournemouth for around £13m last summer.
"Huijsen is a Rolls Royce," Foster said on his Fozcast podcast. "Juve will be watching him going 'oh no, what have we done? We've sold this kid for £15m, and now he's got a £50m buyout clause in his contract'. Realistically, with how much he's improved, he's probably worth more than that.
"There are going to be clubs sniffing around like flies over the proverbial in the summer. It's a massive ask to try and fill the shoes of Virgil Van Dijk, but it's a good start. The big ask of a young player, especially a centre back coming into the Premier League, is whether they can hit the ground running and adapt.
"It's a massive step up even from Juventus. This is all factored into the fact that teams want to buy him now. They see him on the pitch and it's the eye test where you watch somebody being calm and composed and looking like they belong."
Dean Huijsen
The battle for Huijsen's signature is heating up, with Liverpool among the potential suitors. The Telegraph reports that Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich are also in the mix to secure his services.
It is believed Bournemouth clinched his signature last year by promising to give him a chance to shine in the Premier League but are bracing themselves for him to leave. The Cherries are said to have predicted that Huijsen will eventually become one of the world's top three centre-backs.
Liverpool face a tug-of-war for his talents as Spanish news outlet SPORT claims that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has directly reached out to Huijsen to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
In another development, Foster has spoken about the future of Liverpool lynchpins Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. He fears that their drawn-out contract talks might be a bad omen, with Trent Alexander-Arnold also reported to be eyeing a switch to the Real Madrid during the summer.
Foster believes Liverpool need to act within the next couple of weeks or risk losing all three players. He said: "I think VVD is going to go and they're all going to go. I can't believe we're getting to this stage of the season and the longer it goes on, the more it makes me worry.
"For me, they've got two weeks to announce that one of them has signed. If we get past that, I think it's done and I think they're gone. There's been too much negativity around Liverpool lately in the last three or four weeks.
Dean Huijsen playing for Spain
"If they had it done already, they would have used it and they would have put it out. You know for a fact that Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk will have Saudi teams sniffing like crazy."
Liverpool may be forced to consider their options even if Van Dijk agrees to a new contract, as the Dutch defender approaches his 34th birthday this summer.
Meanwhile, Huijsen has received high praise from his manager Andoni Iraola following his debut for Spain in the international break against Van Dijk's Netherlands.
"Obviously, he has improved because he now has more experience," Iraola said. "He has faced very difficult forwards, but we received already a very good player when he came in the summer."
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.