The Cherries are determined to prevent an exodus of talent after losing Dean Huijsen
Bournemouth have set premium prices for their star assets as they prepare to bid farewell to Dean Huijsen, who will join Real Madrid when his £50m release clause is triggered.
The i Paper understands that Madrid have not yet formally completed the signing, but sources suggest that it is now “only a matter of time”, with a deal set to be wrapped up in the next few days.
The idea is for him to link up with his new teammates in time for the Club World Cup starting in June, possibly alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is also set to move to the Bernabeu this summer.
It’s understood that Huijsen’s agent Ali Barat has been in Madrid to finalise personal terms and contract length after the player rejected proposals from Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Dean Huijsen of AFC Bournemouth celebrates after scoring the equalising goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on May 03, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Dean Huijsen is set to join Real Madrid in a £50m deal (Photo: Getty)
The i Paper revealed a fortnight ago that the Magpies had moved on to other targets – including the possibility of reviving their interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi – after sensing that Huijsen’s preference was a move to Spain following a meeting with his agent last month.
Bournemouth have been preparing for Huijsen’s departure for months, while the fact that they have turned a profit of around £37m on the 20-year-old in just 12 months seriously strengthens their hand from a profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) perspective.
It will also allow them to hold out for big fees for some of the other stars of their impressive Premier League campaign.
While the Cherries expect to lose one or possibly two more of their star men this summer, the working assumption is that they will resist a huge exodus of talent despite interest from a host of Premier League clubs that will try and tempt them with the lure of Champions League football.
The i Paper can reveal that the asking price for Milos Kerkez, a target for Liverpool, is set at £45m.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Ben White of Arsenal and Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on May 03, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
Milos Kerkez has been one of the Premier League’s best left-backs this season (Photo: Getty)
Despite talks between the two clubs in recent weeks, the Reds are yet to table a firm offer, with Liverpool also considering Ajax’s versatile Jorrel Hato, who would be available for less.
Bournemouth’s valuation of right winger Antoine Semenyo, who is on Newcastle and Manchester United’s radar, is in excess of £70m.
And the starting price tag on centre-back Illya Zabarnyi, another seriously interesting Newcastle and who is highly admired by Manchester City, is understood to be around £50m.
There are not understood to be release clauses in the deals of those three players.
Those premium prices reflect a belief at Bournemouth that theirs is an ambitious project which is going places.
Your next read
While they have to stay within the Premier League’s PSR limits, the feeling is that there will be further investment in the squad this summer, and they are confident that manager Andoni Iraola will resist overtures from clubs changing managers in the close season.
Iraola, who has already held talks with the club about summer transfer plans, has admitted that Bournemouth expect to sell some of their bigger names over the close season.
“I think there will be changes in the summer,” he told The Sports Agents podcast.
“Yes, probably some players will leave. We will try to keep as many as we can, especially the ones that have performed so well. But the club has to be ready for these movements.”