Sky Sports provide major update on Newcastle United transfer as Chelsea ‘consider’ triggering clause

Huijsen has starred for Bournemouth this season, enjoying a very good debut campaign in the Premier League following his move from Juventus last summer. It is expected that Huijsen will leave the Vitality Stadium this summer, with a host of clubs interested in the defender.

Newcastle United are among those that have tracked his progress on the south coast - with the Magpies hoping to strengthen their defensive options this summer. They would have undoubtedly been impressed with Huijsen during Bournemouth’s 4-1 win at St James’ Park back in January, as he completely nullified the threats of Alexander Isak who, at that point, was looking to score in a ninth-consecutive Premier League match.

However, any interest from St James’ Park is set to be met with not just stiff resistance from Bournemouth, but also huge competition from around Europe.

Sky Sports drop Dean Huijsen transfer update

According to Sky Sports, Newcastle United will be joined by Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Huijsen’s signature this summer. The Premier League quintet could hold an advantage over any European rivals for Huijsen if the defender decides he is settled in England.

However, reported interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will likely be tough for the 20-year-old to ignore. Madrid, in particular, have been positioned as the frontrunners for his signature should they firm up their interest into a bid for the defender.

Keep up with the match-day action from NUFC and sign up for our football newsletters

With all of this interest, it appears very unlikely that Bournemouth will be able to keep hold of Huijsen past this summer’s transfer deadline on Monday 1 September. And a reported release clause in his contract could make that improbable task and impossible one.

It is understood that Huijsen has a £50m release clause in his contract which can be triggered at any time, leaving his club powerless in negotiations.

Whilst £50m would hand Bournemouth a remarkable profit of around £38m after just one season with the club, the going rate for a 20-year-old defender who has impressed as much as Huijsen has this season, likely puts his value in excess of what a club will have to fork out for him this summer.

The report from Sky Sports, meanwhile, describes the race for Huijsen as ‘wide open’ with Chelsea 'considering’ the option of triggering his release clause. The Blues will compete in this summer’s Club World Cup in the USA and could move for Huijsen before that competition begins in mid-June.

English clubs will have a brief window, between June 1-10, to sign players before the transfer market is closed for six days. It will then reopen on June 16 and run until September 1.

Huijsen’s future is set to be one that dominates the headlines between now and whenever a club opts to trigger his release clause. Champions League qualification seems like a necessity for Newcastle United should they have any chance of convincing him to move to Tyneside this summer.

Your next Newcastle United read: Newcastle United v Ipswich Town injury news as 10 definitely out