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Liverpool’s summer plans are beginning to take shape as the Reds aim to hit the ground running in the transfer market.

It was an especially quiet off-season in 2024, with Liverpool signing only Federico Chiesa as an immediate addition to the squad.

In the end that did not hinder Liverpool, who stand on the verge of winning the Premier League in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.

This year looks set to be different, however, with targets already being spoken to ahead of the window opening.

With Liverpool in the market for a new centre-back, Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen has emerged as a serious contender to join the would-be champions.

But Liverpool are not the only team in for Huijsen.

And after the 20-year-old begins talks with his raft of suitors, the Reds are starting to get a feeling of whether or not they’ll win this particular race.

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

Huijsen has had an impressive season with Bournemouth.

After arriving for just £13m last summer, he is set to move again once his £50m release clause is triggered this summer.

And according to Give Me Sport, Liverpool could well be the team who end up signing the Spain international.

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They claim the Reds have delivered their pitch to Huijsen during face-to-face talks and are now ‘confident’ of having put themselves in a commanding position.

Liverpool reportedly feel that their status as soon-to-be champions of England has ‘significantly aided’ them in becoming favourites to land Huijsen.

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And while there is claimed to be ‘increasing optimism’ over Liverpool’s chances, it is also reported that Bournemouth now believe Anfield to be Huijsen’s most likely destination.

However, it should be noted that Chelsea insiders are also said to think themselves to be in a good position, while Real Madrid are also supposedly still lurking.

Huijsen quickly looks to have shot to the top of Liverpool’s centre-back wishlist for this summer.

There are other players out there also worth considering.

We’d prefer Liverpool to sign Murillo over Huijsen, with the Nottingham Forest defender boasting a larger body of work and an equally impressive potential to improve.

Meanwhile, don’t rule out Piero Hincapie who has had another good season with Bayer Leverkusen.

As Liverpool wait to hear back from Huijsen before making their move, we’d imagine work is being done behind the scenes to line up a good alternative just in case.


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