Arseanl are willing to pay Dean Huijsen’s release clause and remain strongly interested in the Bournemouth defender, though they’re one of three front runners.
David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Arsenal remain in contention for the signing of Dean Huijsen this summer, with a strong interest in the Bournemouth defender.
Arsenal are one of five Premier League clubs to have met with Huijsen’s representatives, with the other four being Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Ornstein suggests Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool are the front runners, but there’s no clear favourite among them at this stage.
The report adds that Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta are both keen on Huijsen, and all of the player’s suitors (Arsenal included) are willing to pay his £50m release clause.
Florian Plettenberg has reported that one of the major appeals of the clause is the fact it doesn’t have to be paid in its entirety immediately. Instead, the payment can be made in three instalments.
Both the player and his current club Bournemouth want his situation sorted sooner rather than later.
20-year-old Huijsen has made 31 appearances for Bournemouth this season so far, as well as making his debut for the Spanish national team.
Under normal circumstances, the former Juventus and AS Roma defender probably wouldn’t be on the market less than a year after joining Bournemouth, but his release clause effectively guarantees that he’ll be moving on this summer.
Arsenal may have to make a quick decision about whether this is a deal they can afford to do, along with all their other summer business.