Real Madrid’s pursuit of Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen has been described as a “done deal” in Spain, which could signal a swift end to one of the summer’s most-talked about transfer sagas.
Huijsen has enjoyed a breakout season in the Premier League following a low-key move from Juventus last summer, and made his senior Spain debut in March.
The Dutch-born defender has been on the radars of Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich as they all try to strengthen at the back, but Madrid have been confident of securing a deal.
Huijsen’s own decision is the most important factor in this instance, with a £50m (€59m) release clause that can be paid to Bournemouth in three instalments easily triggerable by numerous clubs.
MARCA lead with the headline “Everything Agreed”, with the claim that documents are starting to be exchanged between Real Madrid and Bournemouth and that only an “official signing” is required. It is reported by the Spanish outlet that Huijsen has rejected seven other “concrete offers”.
If Madrid wrap things up quickly, Huijsen can be registered during FIFA’s exceptional mini-transfer window at the start of June and will be eligible to play from the start of the Club World Cup.
In the past, Madrid have been notorious for briefing Spanish media that transfer pursuits are more advanced than they are, intended to put pressure on the various parties involved.
Even in the last couple of weeks, reports from other countries have offered conflicting information, but weight is added to MARCA‘s claims by a separate story from the Telegraph providing a similar version of events that the race for Huijsen has been “won”.
The key moment for Madrid is said to have been a “breakthrough” on the 20-year-old’s salary demands, proving critical to beating off competition from Chelsea in particular.
Defence has been a troublesome part of the pitch for Madrid this season, with Eder Militao ruled out long-term, David Alaba struggling since his own lengthy absence and Antonio Rudiger playing on through pain for months until just now undergoing surgery. Right-back Dani Carvajal has also missed most of the campaign, with doubts about Ferland Mendy on the left.
Suddenly, however, the back four could look very different, with the expected capture of Huijsen on top of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s imminent arrival. The England full-back is out of contract at Liverpool on 30 June, but negotiations over a nominal transfer fee of around €1m could allow him to make the move three weeks earlier and, like Huijsen, similarly be registered in the mini-window.
