Chelsea stance revealed on Real Madrid target Dean Huijsen | OneFootball

Chelsea will fight tooth and nail with Real Madrid for the signature of Bournemouth phenom Dean Huijsen this summer, reports in Spain allege.

The 19-year-old has long been considered a star in the making having risen through the ranks at Juventus, with a six-month loan spell at Roma last summer only solidifying his status as a bona fide wonderkid.

Bournemouth managed quite the coup in signing the centre-back last summer for just £15m amid interest from Europe's elite and Andoni Iraola has proven the perfect mentor. Huijsen has blossomed since coming into the starting lineup for the injured Marcos Senesi and has now made 27 appearances on the south coast.

Huijsen's eye-catching performances even earned him his first senior appearances for Spain during the March international break. Despite representing the Netherlands - the country of his birth - at youth level, he's since committed his future to La Roja. He featured during Nations League quarter-final clashes with the Dutch following an injury to Pau Cubarsi.

Unsurprisingly, Huijsen is already a transfer target for Europe's biggest clubs this summer, with Chelsea ready to rival favourites Real Madrid for his services, according to a report from Spanish publication SPORT.

Madrid have expressed their interest in the teenager and are clear frontrunners in the race, with Huijsen's decision to represent Spain at international level supposedly reflecting his desire to return to the country - where he moved aged five.

Dean Huijsen is interesting transfer protagonists Chelsea / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages

But Chelsea are not giving up hope and have their own advantage. Huijsen emerged from the Malaga academy as a young talent and current Blues boss Enzo Maresca is a former employee of the second division side.

Maresca's strong relationship with Malaga and the club's staff means he's long been aware of Huijsen's potential, and it's said he knows "every detail" of the defender's move to Juventus and subsequent loan to Roma.

Madrid wish to avoid a bidding war that will see Huijsen's €50m (£42m) price tag inflated - as was the case in their pursuit of now Manchester United centre-back Leny Yoro last summer - and are keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to the Bournemouth starlet.

Chelsea will be hard pushed to leapfrog Madrid in the hunt for Huijsen's signature, but they retain significant interest in the Spanish international and are willing to compete with the reigning European champions in a transfer battle.