Chelsea and Liverpool are reportedly at the forefront in the race to secure Bournemouth's star defender Dean Huijsen, with a hefty £50million release clause attached to his name. The 19-year-old has been a revelation this season, delivering some stellar performances for the Cherries.
Both the Blues and the Reds are on the hunt for new centre-backs, as Enzo Maresca needs to bolster his defence due to Wesley Fofana's injury record, while Arne Slot is aware that he'll need to find a successor for Virgil van Dijk in the not-too-distant future.
The Independent reports that Bournemouth are expecting interest in their young prodigy this summer, with Real Madrid also keeping tabs on Huijsen. While it would be hard for the Spanish international to turn down an offer from Madrid, he might prefer to continue his development in the Premier League. Both Chelsea and Liverpool have been working on deals to bring Huijsen onboard, with the Blues seemingly making more headway.
However, the report emphasises that Huijsen's future remains "very much up in the air" as he takes time to consider all the interest and potential offers before deciding on his next move, reports the Mirror. It further suggests that Liverpool's situation could change if Van Dijk opts to extend his contract, which might lead the Reds to postpone their search for a back-up defender.
Real Madrid have their sights set on bolstering their defence for the long-term, eyeing younger talent as seasoned players like David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger approach their 32nd birthdays. The club believes they could wield "considerable sway" should they opt to join the pursuit for Huijsen, although no official moves have been made to secure a deal yet.
Huijsen's potential move to Madrid is seen as an easy fit, considering his upbringing in Marbella since he was five years old following his family's relocation there. The young defender recently marked his starting debut for Spain with an assist during the 3-3 draw with the Netherlands, in which he also played 49 minutes in the preceding match against the same opponent.
His Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said his call-up to the Spain squad and solid performances were not a surprise. He said: “Because now he has made the national team debut and has played well, people are talking more about him. I think he played at the same level he was playing with us.
"Obviously, he has improved because he now has more experience. He has faced very difficult forwards, but we received already a very good player when he came in the summer."
football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel
Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Want to keep up to date with the breaking and important Chelsea stories whilst on the move? Well now you can!
Click this link to follow the football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel, where you'll be kept up to date on the latest Blues news wherever you are.
Just remember to turn on the notifications once you've followed, and you won't miss a beat!