Newcastle eye move for £50m “complete package”
According to iNews, Newcastle United are one of the Premier League clubs interested in signing AFC Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen this summer.
Newcastle are expected to have a busy summer in the transfer window after failing to reinvest in their attacking threat and defence in January.
The Magpies parted ways with stalwart Miguel Almiron collecting £9m from their sale to Atalanta United in the MLS, while Lloyd Kelly’s short spell on Tyneside came to an abrupt end as he joined Juventus on loan with a £20m obligation to buy in the summer.
Indeed, there will be some frustration for the fans with the lack of depth in the squad over the remainder of the season, but Paul Mitchell is now armed with a healthy budget to add impactful new players ahead of next season.
Finding the missing piece of an elite attacking threat will be a huge task for Mitchell, with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon in the long-term plans for the club a prolific right winger that can match their quality is essential.
Not only that, the centre-back depth is another key area for the sporting director to address, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are coming to the latter stages of their career and if Newcastle are going to compete on all fronts they need quality depth in their back-line to enable rotation.
Finding the perfect long-term partner for Sven Botman has not been easy for the Tynesiders, with an ambitious effort to sign Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi knocked back on more than one occasion last summer.
Now it is looking like Newcastle have moved onto another Premier League prospect, with iNews reporting that the North East giants are one of the clubs interested in securing the signing of AFC Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen.
The publication reveals that Newcastle will have competition from Liverpool and Chelsea for the 19-year-old talent this summer, and it is expected that the Cherries will command a £50m transfer fee to part ways with their young player.
Should Newcastle sign Dean Huijsen?
There is no doubt that Newcastle must identify a successor for Schar this summer, especially if they do qualify for European football at the end of the current campaign.
Dubbed “one of the most talented teenage CBs is Europe” and the “complete package” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, Huijsen has deservedly captured the attention of elite clubs in the Premier League.
The 19-year-old ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shot-creating actions and interceptions per 90, whilst also ranking in the top 16% for progressive carries, clearances and blocks per 90, which is incredibly impressive for a teenage defender.
The Spain U21s star also offers the Premier League experience he has earned since joining the Cherries from Juventus last summer, after rising through the ranks of the ultra competitive academy to the first team at the Italian club.
If there is genuine interest from Liverpool and Chelsea there will definitely be some tough competition for Newcastle to fend off, but the project on Tyneside is a great place for young players to develop, with Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon great examples of the development success stories and opportunities to flourish under Howe’s guidance.
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Newcastle to make an offer for Huijsen this summer as the long term investment into his talent could massively pay off for the club in the years to come.
