Chelsea have stolen a march on their rivals in the race to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season with the south coast club and is already regarded as one of Europe’s most highly-rated young defenders.
Bournemouth paid Juventus a modest £12.8million transfer fee for the teenager last summer and look set to quadruple their money given the centre-half has a £50million release clause in his contract.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid have all expressed an interest in Huijsen but it is Chelsea, who perhaps surprisingly, lead the race, according to the Independent.
The Blues are prepared to offer the player a seven-year deal to which Huijsen is said to be ‘giving serious consideration to’.
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Clearlake’s model has been to sign the best young players in world football since they assumed control of the club from Roman Abramovich.
That model has had mixed success so far but despite teething troubles under their latest manager, Ezno Maresca, they look set to achieve Champions League qualification and remain on course to win the Conference League.
Real, meanwhile, are said to have dropped out of the running having baulked at the Spain international’s release clause.
Huijsen appeared interested in a move to Spain and said recently: ‘It’s a source of pride to have such a big team interested in you; it’s special and means you’re doing well.
Huijsen had a chance to join Real Madrid when he moved to Juventus in 2021 but opted for a move to Serie A instead.
‘I think it was a measured decision,’ he explained. ‘I wanted to go to Juventus because of Italy’s reputation, where [Giorgio] Chiellini, [Leonardo] Bonucci, [Andrea] Barzagli, and other historic centre-backs were.
‘I wanted to learn defensive skills, which you also learn in Spain, but you work harder there. I think it was the right decision.
‘You never know how it would have gone [at Real Madrid], it was a very good option, but at that time I thought the best thing for me was to learn a little bit about the defensive side and I think I’ve learned it.’
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Real are instead likely to keep close tabs on William Saliba’s contract situation at Arsenal.
The 24-year-old is set to enter the final two years of his deal and although he insists he is happy at the club, the lure of Real could prove too enticing.
Speaking ahead of the recent Champions League meeting between the two clubs, he said: ‘I’m really happy here. I’ve been here for two years and a half as well. There is nothing. I’m happy here and I want to continue here.
‘I want to win big things with Arsenal. If you leave this club without winning anything, the fans will forget about you. I want to win big things here.’
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