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A new centre-back is on the agenda for Liverpool this summer.

The upcoming transfer window is set to be a busy one for the Reds as Arne Slot looks to strengthen his squad so that the Merseyside club can remain challenging for the Premier League title next season.

Should the Dutch star leave, the Premier League leaders will need an immediate replacement and even if the centre-back stays, the Reds are still on the lookout for their captain’s eventual successor.

Liverpool have one player in mind, but it seems that they have fallen behind in the race for the young defensive talent.

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Dean Huijsen is one of several targets Liverpool are monitoring ahead of the summer transfer window as the Reds also have an interest in Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio, Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill.

The Bournemouth star has emerged as a top target for several big clubs in Europe as the 19-year-old is having an impressive season at the Vitality Stadium, with Ian Wright recently describing Huijsen as being “so good”.

Huijsen has a very attractive £50m release clause in his current contract, which becomes active this summer and a new report from The Independent has stated that Chelsea are felt to have currently made more progress than any other club in the race for the 19-year-old talent.

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Liverpool are still in the running the land the Bournemouth centre-back this summer as despite this new update, the report also mentions that Huijsen’s future is still very much up in the air.

A big threat to both Premier League clubs’ hopes of signing Huijsen is Real Madrid and the report does mention where they stand in the race for the Spain international

During the international break, it emerged that Real Madrid would be the preferred destination for Huijsen next season as the Spanish international’s father dropped a big hint with his social media activity.

The La Liga champions are a big threat to both Liverpool and Chelsea’s hopes of landing the 19-year-old talent; however, the Independent states that Real Madrid are looking to sign a new centre-back this summer, but haven’t worked on any prospective deal as much as their two English rivals.

It is likely that Real Madrid are currently focussing on signing Trent Alexander-Arnold and once a deal for the right-back is over the line, the Spanish giants could deal a double blow to Liverpool by luring Huijsen to the Bernabeu.

It will be interesting to see where Huijsen ends up ahead of the 2025/26 season but it is clear that Liverpool are still in the race for the 19-year-old talent, despite some disadvantages.
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