Chelsea Confident in Landing £50m Defender Despite Liverpool Interest | OneFootball

Chelsea Intensify Huijsen Pursuit as Defensive Plans Take Shape

The corridors of Stamford Bridge are already humming with summer planning. Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca now at the helm, are keen to bolster their ranks with top-tier talent—and high on their list is Dean Huijsen. As TEAMtalk reports, “Sources have now confirmed Chelsea have held further talks over the last week and the London side are pushing hard to land Huijsen.”

The defensive line is one area identified for reinforcement, and Huijsen is regarded as a primary solution to what has been a recurring issue for the Blues over several seasons—defensive inconsistency. With a new manager looking to impose his tactical fingerprint, starting with a composed and progressive centre-back is crucial.

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Positive Talks Give Chelsea Belief

There is an emerging sense of confidence around the Huijsen negotiations. According to TEAMtalk, “Talks were described as extremely positive and there is now growing confidence that he is seriously considering the move to Stamford Bridge.”

For a player whose stock has risen sharply—largely thanks to a mature season with Bournemouth—it is no surprise that Europe’s elite have come calling. Huijsen, just 20, has demonstrated the kind of composure, timing, and footballing intelligence that belies his age.

His current contract contains a £50 million release clause—a fee that won’t deter the likes of Chelsea or Liverpool. It’s not just the Premier League chasing him either. “Despite some reports claiming he would not want to move to Real Madrid over one within the Premier League, the 20-year-old has been clear that he wants to play at the highest level possible and Madrid are that.”

Rivals Liverpool and Madrid in the Mix

Chelsea are not operating in a vacuum. Liverpool are also firmly in the picture, with Arne Slot’s new regime viewing Huijsen as a key addition. TEAMtalk confirms “Liverpool had taken concrete steps to win the race for the talented defender, who will leave Bournemouth this summer.”

The Reds are eager to reinforce a defence that has shown signs of creaking in recent campaigns, particularly with questions over Virgil van Dijk’s long-term fitness. The battle between two of the Premier League’s traditional powerhouses for one of Europe’s most promising defenders is unfolding rapidly.

Real Madrid, ever the lurking giant, have shown interest but are yet to act decisively. Their pedigree may appeal to Huijsen, but the chance for regular Premier League minutes and a starring role under Maresca could tip the balance in Chelsea’s favour.

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Hato Considered as Contingency

Chelsea are clearly determined to land their primary target, but they are not without a plan B. Should Huijsen opt elsewhere, the Blues are eyeing Jorrel Hato of Ajax. The 26-game campaign under Francesco Farioli has been eye-catching, and “Ajax want around £40million for Hato who is admired by a host of clubs.”

At 18, Hato represents another bold investment in youth, mirroring Chelsea’s longer-term project strategy. His ball-playing ability and composure have made him a standout in the Eredivisie.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

It’s refreshing to see Chelsea acting with intent and clarity in the market for once. Dean Huijsen looks like a serious talent, and this is exactly the sort of player we need if Maresca is going to bring control and structure to our defence.

Too often we’ve chopped and changed, never truly settling on a centre-back partnership. Thiago Silva has been brilliant, but he can’t go on forever. Bringing in a young, ball-playing defender who’s already shown maturity in the Premier League is a logical move—and the £50m release clause is pretty reasonable in today’s market.

That said, we’ve seen this before. Big clubs circling, promises made, and suddenly the player ends up in Madrid or Liverpool red. If we’re serious, we need to close this quickly.

Jorrel Hato is a great backup option—possibly even a better long-term fit—but we shouldn’t miss out on Huijsen if we’ve got the upper hand now. Let’s make this the start of smart, targeted rebuilding rather than another summer of bloated spending.