When David Ornstein speaks, that is when you know this is a rumour to keep a very keen eye on. Liverpool, it seems, do indeed have plenty of interest in one of the Premier League’s breakout talents.
And if there was a better pound-for-pound signing throughout England’s top-flight last summer, well, answers on a postcard please. A summer in which Liverpool bought only the seldom-seen Federico Chiesa alongside Giorgi Mamardashvili
AFC Bournemouth, in the meantime, paid just £12.8 million to bring Dean Huijsen to the South Coast from Italian giants Juventus. A deal which has proven to be as inspired for The Cherries as it has been maligned in Turin.
Because while Juventus would splurge £15 million on Newcastle misfit Lloyd Kelly a few months later – far older and with a much lower ceiling – 19-year-old Huijsen has blossomed into one of the most promising young defenders not only in England but across the entirety of Europe
Liverpool show ‘firm interest’ in Bournemouth ace Dean Huijsen
Speaking to The Athletic, the oracle of transfer news that is David Ornstein confirms earlier reports suggesting that Huijsen is indeed high on Liverpool’s summer wishlist.
“I now understand that Liverpool are among the clubs with a firm interest in Dean Huijsen,” Ornstein explains. “This has been reported elsewhere and is accurate. Chelsea have enquired and Arsenal are in the mix, too.
At the moment, those are perhaps the three leading contenders but not the only ones, with Newcastle and Tottenham also keen.
What’s more, Ornstein believes that Liverpool have held talks with Huijsen’s representatives over the last seven days.
The teenager also appeared to confirm the existence of a £50 million release clause in his Bournemouth contract in discussions with the Spanish media, albeit while Huijsen batted his eyelashes at Real Madrid in the very same interview.
Huijsen open to Real Madrid switch as Arsenal and Chelsea circle
While relatively new on Liverpool’s wishlist, the Amsterdam-born Spaniard has been on Real’s radar for quite a while.
I believe [Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal] have all held meetings or conversations with Huijsen’s camp in the last week,” Ornstein adds. “It has been well documented that Real Madrid held great appeal for Huijsen growing up and they do like him.
“But I don’t know of them actively working on it. Therefore — at the time of writing — it looks most probable he will join another Premier League club.
“I think there’s a desire on the part of Bournemouth and the player to have this situation decided asap. The £50 million release clause makes it a clean and potentially quick deal to do, which we’ve seen Liverpool capitalise on in the past.”
Ornstein says that Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta are both ‘huge fans’ of their fellow Spaniard. Liverpool are set to extend Virgil van Dijk’s contract, meanwhile, but the uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate’s own future may yet force Liverpool into the market.
According to reports, Konate’s representatives want a £120,000-a-week pay rise at Anfield.
As Ornstein alludes to, meanwhile, Liverpool have made a habit of triggering affordable release clauses in recent years. Alexis Mac Allister joined from Brighton for a bargain £35 million while Dominik Szoboszlai joined in similar circumstances that same summer