Liverpool are in the hunt for Dean Huijsen’s signature.
Liverpool have reportedly made a ‘big push’ to sign Dean Huijsen as a replacement for Jarell Quansah. And while it would land them one of the most exciting young centre-back talents in the world, signing Huijsen and bidding farewell to Quansah risks giving sporting director Richard Hughes a headache that would be difficult to cure.
Premier League rules dictate that each club must name a minimum of eight homegrown players in their 25-man squad. In their current state, Liverpool have no trouble meeting those requirements. But a busy summer transfer window of outgoings as well as incomings could leave them scrambling to hit the threshold.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is widely expected to join Real Madrid, Caoimhin Kelleher seems destined to be ousted by Giorgi Mamardashvili, Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton may look for regular game time elsewhere, while Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips would appear to have no future at Anfield.
Fellow homegrown talent Quansah could yet join the exodus. According to Sky Germany, Liverpool are planning to either loan or sell the 22-year-old before replacing him with Huijsen
Chelsea are also in for Huijsen, who has a £50million release clause in his Bournemouth contract, but the Reds have been trying to boost their prospects of signing him in recent weeks
Quansah’s prospective departure would leave the Liverpool squad in an even more desperate position. Only Vitezslav Jaros, Owen Beck, Conor Bradley, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott would remain, and Elliott has also been linked with a move elsewhere
Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak could return to Anfield after loan stints with Las Palmas and Middlesbrough respectively, but as they are both under 21, they would not count towards Liverpool’s homegrown total. The replacement of Quansah with Huijsen, coupled with the wave of other possible exits, threatens to leave Hughes in a tough predicament
Manager Arne Slot has teased fans with the prospect of a big summer transfer window at Anfield. But Hughes and the rest of the recruitment team may find that their task of scouting out the very best is hampered by a need to sign a hoard of homegrown stars. And the top English players don’t come cheap.
Liverpool may well be a whisker away from the Premier League title and looking forward to a summer of strengthening. But the homegrown issue could become a pain in the neck if players who are in that category are replaced by players who aren’t.