Real Madrid are said to have agreed a deal to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, with terms on his £50m release clause having been accepted.
The Cherries centre-back has enjoyed an excellent season on the south coast, helping guide Bournemouth to their highest ever Premier League points tally (53) with two games still to play.
There is still a chance that 10th-placed Bournemouth could qualify for Europe, though boss Andoni Iraola is unlikely to be able to lead his side into Europe next term with Huijsen at the club.
The 20-year-old can be bought for a fee of £50m, with sides such as Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all credited with an interest in his signature.
However, journalist Fabrizio Romano claims Bournemouth have approved a deal from Real Madrid which will see the Spaniard's release clause paid by the end of 2026.
© Imago
Why Huijsen would excel at Real Madrid
During his time at Bournemouth, Huijsen has demonstrated that he can consistently break lines thanks to his impressive passing ability.
His quality in possession makes his side's buildup play unpredictable and stifles the opposition's press, creating space for his teammates higher up the pitch.
Xabi Alonso is expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout at Real Madrid, and the current Bayer Leverkusen boss could look to use Huijsen's ability on the ball to help bring the likes of Kylian Mbappe into play.
Additionally, Alonso is likely to use his preferred 3-4-3 system at the Bernabeu, and doing so could mask some of the Bournemouth defender's weaknesses.
While Huijsen is excellent in possession, he can at times struggle to compete in the air despite his tall frame, but featuring alongside two other centre-back's could alleviate the burden on him to win aerial duels.
With Los Blancos have also linked with the likes of William Saliba and Ibrahima Konate, it would not be surprising to see a major transformation in the Spanish giants' backline.
Lewis Nolan
