Two years after Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia slipped through Jurgen Klopp’s grasp, could Chelsea once again stick a spanner in Liverpool’s summer plans?

While Liverpool opened talks with Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen a few weeks back, more recent reports emerging over the last 48 hours or so suggest that another of the Reds’ leading transfer targets could be on his way to Stamford Bridge instead.

Deja vu, indeed.

Chelsea have ‘taken a lead’ in pursuit of Huijsen, so say The Independent.

Race wide open for Huijsen with FIVE PL clubs, Real and Bayern keen	Agent in touch with Arsenal and Chelsea, but Liverpool lead race to sign £50m star	Liverpool hopes for Hughes’ magic as Chelsea leads the race for £50m star

Now, before you all rush to ask just why on earth a central defender with so much life ahead of him would choose the draining environment of Stamford Bridge, it should be stressed that no decision has been made yet by the Amsterdam-born Spain international.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the interest of both Liverpool and Chelsea can be traced back to the beginning of 2025.

Dean Huijsen was really starting to come into his stride as a Bournemouth player back then, having netted a winner against Tottenham Hotspur before setting Andoni Iraola’s Cherries on their way to another famous 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

And while Liverpool have interest in Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi, amongst others, Huijsen appears to have cemented his position right at the top of the Premier League leaders’ summer wishlist.

Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

Romano, meanwhile, confirms that talks are indeed underway with Chelsea.

But, with Liverpool and Arsenal too also having held initial discussions with the 19-year-old former Juventus starlet, suggestions that Chelsea could leave Liverpool empty handed again appear premature.

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“The reality is that Dean Huijsen has not made a decision yet,” Romano begins, a £50 million release clause in the defender’s contract set to become active once the season ends.

So Chelsea, Liverpool Arsenal; These three clubs, for sure.”

Ambitious Newcastle United and underachieving Tottenham are already trailing in the wake of three traditional Premier League powerhouses.

“Don’t forget about Bayern because Bayern could look for a defender in the in the summer transfer window, and Huijsen is a player they love.

“[But] they feel that Premier League clubs can spend way more money, and so that’s why Bayern at the moment are not that confident that they can make it happen.

But they want the player, they made contact with those close to the player but they feel the Premier League clubs can pay more money.

Real Madrid would be one of the favourite options for the player, but Madrid at the moment have still not made any decision on whether they want to sign a defender or how much they want to invest.

“That’s why the situation is really leaning towards a move to the Premier League.
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