Chelsea are leading the race to sign AFC Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, according to a report.
Newcastle United were heavily linked with the 20-year-old before he moved to the Vitality Stadium from Juventus last summer. Eddie Howe’s side retain a strong interest but will have to pay more than triple the £15million the Cherries paid for him.
Huijsen has enjoyed an excellent first season in England, appearing 31 times across all competitions. He has also broken into the Spain national team after making his debut in a Nations League quarter-final win over the Netherlands last month.
As a result, several clubs are weighing up triggering Huijsen’s £50m release clause. Newcastle, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have already held talks with representatives.
Chelsea lead race for Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen
And according to the Independent, Chelsea have “taken a lead” in the pursuit of Huijsen and hope to complete a deal before their Club World Cup campaign gets underway mid-June. It’s claimed the player is “seriously considering” a move to Stamford Bridge.
The report adds: “Chelsea are willing to offer a package that could make up a seven-year contract, with Huijsen fitting their strategy of signing the most promising young players in football.”
Bournemouth ‘resigned’ to losing Dean Huijsen
Huijsen was asked about his future earlier this month and revealed he has left it in the hands of his father, who is also his agent.
“I’m very calm. I don’t really focus on it, now is not the time, I’m just focused on finishing the season well,” Huijsen told Sky Sports. “My dad is my agent, he fixes everything. I don’t read anything, I don’t think about it too much, I’m just focusing on my football and working hard.”
Bournemouth are resigned to losing the defender. His teammates Justin Kluivert recently admitted that Huijsen ‘won’t be’ at the club next season after telling MARCA: “He plays for Bournemouth with me. He is a great player. Spain have a phenomenon (who will play) for so many years.
“He is truly amazing. He came to England in the summer and adapted fantastically. He is so young, he already plays for Spain and he plays like this. I’m sure he will have a lot of offers in the summer. And we all know that next year he won’t be with us at Bournemouth.”
Newcastle United’s summer transfer plans
Newcastle plan to address their ageing defence – Sven Botman is the only centre-back under the age of 30 – this summer but the level of players they can attract will depend on whether they qualify for next season’s Champions League.
As it stands, the Magpies are on track to qualify as they currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, two points ahead of sixth place Chelsea. Five games of the campaign remain, starting with Ipswich Town at St James’ Park on Saturday.
United’s potential decider against Chelsea takes place on Sunday, May 11, a week after the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion. Howe’s men then head to Arsenal before ending the season at home to Everton.
