Xabi Alonso is expected to target Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen for Real Madrid in the summer transfer window according to reports.
The current Bayer Leverkusen boss announced that he would be leaving the Bundesliga club at the end of the season amid speculation that he will be the successor to Carlo Ancelotti at Real.
Alonso will take over a side that has endured a mixed campaign, as while they could still win La Liga, they fell below their standards in the Champions League when they were eliminated by Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
Los Blancos will certainly look to back Alonso in the transfer market, and the club seem destined to secure the services of Trent Alexander-Arnold when his Liverpool contract expires in the summer.
Reports from talkSPORT suggest that the Spanish giants may target Bournemouth defender Huijsen, who can be signed should a side activate his £50m release clause.
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Alonso's Premier League raid
Alonso is likely to implement his 3-4-3 system at the Bernabeu that he used so successfully at Leverkusen, guiding the club to the Bundesliga title in 2023-24 while avoiding defeat.
However, he will need to make a number of defensive additions considering defenders David Alaba and Eder Militao have been beset by injury issues in recent seasons, while veteran Dani Carvajal is 33.
Alexander-Arnold suits playing as Alonso's right wing-back, and Huijsen has excelled as a left-sided centre-back for Bournemouth, and he would suit a role as a wide centre-back for Los Blancos.
There are concerns about the defensive attitude of Alexander-Arnold, but Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for his Liverpool teammate Ibrahima Konate, who often covers for the Englishman.
Konate's ability to defend the right channel would make him an excellent choice for Alonso, and given the Frenchman has little over a year remaining on his Liverpool deal, a transfer could materialise sooner rather than later.
Elsewhere, Los Blancos have been credited with an interest in Arsenal's William Saliba, and his passing quality would undoubtedly make him an asset in early phases of buildup.
Lewis Nolan
