Man City identify 19-year-old Real Madrid target as perfect signing for defensive stability | OneFootball

Manchester City have reportedly entered the race to sign Dean Huijsen, a highly-rated young defender who has been on Real Madrid’s radar for some time.

According to the latest reports from GiveMeSport, relayed by AS, the Premier League giants are keen on securing the services of the 19-year-old centre-back in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Huijsen, a Spanish Under-21 international, is regarded as one of the most promising central defenders in European football. Since making the move to the Premier League, he has impressed with his performances under Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

His rapid development has caught the attention of several top European clubs, with Real Madrid being one of the teams closely monitoring his progress.

City have entered the race

Despite reinforcing their defence during the January transfer window with the acquisitions of Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, Manchester City are still looking to strengthen their backline.

Now, they have set their sights on Huijsen, putting them in direct competition with Real Madrid for his signature.

Dean Huijsen is now on Manchester City’s radar. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

From Real Madrid’s perspective, securing a young and talented centre-back like Huijsen makes perfect sense. Their current defensive options include Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, both of whom are ageing, while Eder Militao has endured consecutive ACL injuries.

As a result, the club is expected to enter the market for a long-term defensive reinforcement, and Huijsen appears to be a strong candidate.

There is a release clause

The young defender is currently enjoying an excellent debut season in the Premier League after joining Bournemouth from Juventus last summer.

He has a contract with the English side until 2030, but what makes him particularly attractive to potential suitors is the release clause embedded in his contract. From this summer onwards, Huijsen can be signed for a fee of €50 million.

With both Real Madrid and Manchester City now in the running, competition for Huijsen’s signature is set to be fierce.

Given his potential and the growing interest from top clubs, Bournemouth may find it difficult to keep hold of their defensive gem beyond this season.