Real Madrid are ‘interested’ in a second Premier League defender as the Spanish giants ‘close in on’ the transfer of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Widespread reports in Spain claim that Alexander-Arnold is poised to join Real, who are expected to complete a deal next summer.
The club are hellbent on reinforcing their right-back options and appear to be on the verge of landing their No.1 target in that position.
And they’re keeping tabs on another Premier League defender ahead of making a potential approach.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, Real have taken an interest in Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen.
The La Liga side are looking to recruit a new centre-back in the next couple of years given that David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are both in their 30s.
It’s stated that a younger signing is needed to partner Eder Militao, with Huijsen fitting the club’s ideal profile.
Huijsen, 19, joined Bournemouth from Juventus for an initial £12.6 million and has impressed under the managerial tutelage of Andoni Iraola.
He’s made 12 league appearances this season and has established himself as a first-team player.
The teenager has also weighed in with two goals, including a header in his side’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United.
He helped his team keep a clean sheet in his last outing as Iraola praised his showing against Crystal Palace.
“I think he had a difficult game because at the end he has been sometimes one against one against Mateta, that is an uncomfortable player, a very good size, technically also a very good player,” he told the Bournemouth Echo.
“I think he has won most of these duels and on the ball, I think he has been very clean. In the build up, I think you have to be at the end in almost a 5, 4, 1 [or a] 5, 2, 3
“You have to manipulate them a lot, change them side to side. And I think especially with Dean, this left side with Milos, with Dango [Ouattara], [David] Brooksy at the end, we had some good moments. We couldn’t finish them.
“But I think he has played very we.”