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Andoni Iraola has addressed the noise surrounding the future of Liverpool-linked Dean Huijsen.
Earlier this week, David Ornstein confirmed that Liverpool have held meetings with the defender’s representatives.
The Spanish centre-back is expected to be at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war at the end of the season, with Liverpool’s name in the hat amongst Europe’s elite.
Fabrizio Romano was the first to report Huijsen’s £50 million release clause, confirming that it will become active this summer.
The player also confirmed that the clause indeed exists in his contract.
Although Bournemouth is keen to keep him by proposing a new contract, his chances of staying appear low due to strong interest from elite clubs.
The £50m release clause, while substantial, is deemed cost-effective compared to premiums for Jarrad Branthwaite (£70m+) or Marc Guehi.
A release-clause activation would mirror previous successes like Dominik Szoboszlai’s acquisition via release clause, offering financial predictability amid volatile markets.
Liverpool faces intense competition, particularly from Real Madrid—a club Huijsen openly admires.
However, amid the interest in the defender, Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola has revealed this focus is on getting the best out of the 19-year-old in the remaining seven games of the season.
The Cherries, who are sitting in tenth position, are still within a shot of securing European football for the very first time.
Iraola is desperate to keep Huijsen focused on the task at hand- a Premier League meeting with fellow surprise-package Fulham on Monday.
“My only concern with Dean is he keeps his focus here,” Iraola explained during his Friday press conference.
“I see he trains very well.
He knows we have seven very important games ahead of us, and I see him in a really good place.
“No, I don’t think the noise around is affecting him.
I have enough problems now, and I have seven important games to play, and we are fighting for important things.
“I’m not thinking [about] these things.
I know that you speak, but for me, the focus is Fulham on Monday?
I really don’t think in the things that may happen or may not, or we don’t know.
“That’s my focus.”
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