Liverpool need to make some signings in the transfer market this summer. Luckily, Arne Slot’s side are on the cusp of winning the Premier League after nominal investment in recent windows, and FSG are ready to reward them.
Now that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s deals have been extended – well ahead of the summer transfer window – sporting director Richard Hughes can focus his attention on drafting plans and convincing agents that Anfield is the place for their first-class client.
Ah, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new contract may sit unsigned, but if you read between the lines, it sadly becomes quite clear that the boyhood Red will close this chapter of his career and sign for Real Madrid at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
However, Liverpool are indeed ready to strengthen across the park, which will ease the pain sure to come when Trent goes. One such signing has been identified as one of the prized players on the south coast.
Liverpool have enjoyed plenty of success in plucking from England’s southerly beaches over the years, with Van Dijk joined by Sadio Mane in joining from Southampton, charging an illustrious era under Jurgen Klopp’s wing.
Now, FSG’s attention has been turned toward Bournemouth.
Liverpoool pushing to sign PL star
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are working on a deal for Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, who has a £50m release clause in his contract and is expected to leave the Vitality Stadium this summer.
Plettenberg implies that talks have already taken place, with the Reds making a “strong push”, while “projects and figures have all been presented”.
Recent reports have circulated purporting Chelsea to be in the lead for the Spain international, but this has since been quashed by top sources such as Fabrizio Romano – with the transfer guru corroborating claims regarding talks being held.
The race is on, but Liverpool are pulling out all the stops and are working toward moving to the front, having indeed presented their package.
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Contrastingly to the Chelsea-led rumours, talkSPORT claim Huijsen favours a move to Liverpool over that of Stamford Bridge.
Why Liverpool want Dean Huijsen
Huijsen is very much the talk of the town right now.
The Dutch-born central defender is only 20 years old, plying his way through his first campaign on English shores, yet he’s thriving, arresting most high-class outfits across the continent and being hailed as a “world-class” player in the making by one analyst.
He’s the real deal, all right, with a ball-playing game that bespeaks his potential as a superstar for a team at the top of the pyramid, ranking among the top 16% of positional peers for progressive passes and the top 7% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.
It’s remarkable to think he hasn’t played all that much football yet is performing to such a high level, truly a talent capable of forging a lightning-in-a-bottle type of career.
Matches (starts)
27 (22)
31 (30)
Goals
2
0
Assists
1
0
Clean sheets
7
7
Touches*
60.5
58.1
Key passes*
0.5
0.4
Pass completion
85%
82%
Ball recoveries*
3.4
4.5
Tackles + interceptions*
3.0
2.6
Clearances*
5.9
4.8
Duels (won)*
3.9
4.0
Alongside another young defender, the 22-year-old Illya Zabarnyi, Huijsen has shone that little bit brighter for Andoni Iraola, with a sharper attacking approach, crisper in possession while influencing forward moves too, and proving to be a bit more robust in his defensive duties.
We touched earlier on the fact that Huijsen could arrive as Slot’s own version of Van Dijk, but we also paid note to Mane, and in a curious way Huijsen may prove to be Liverpool’s next version of the Senegal legend.
Mane left Southampton and signed for Liverpool in 2016 for a £34m fee, having notched 35 goal contributions across just two seasons for Saints.
But he transcended expectations at Liverpool, going from strength to strength and then stronger still as he formed a part of one of the Premier League’s all-time attacking trios, praised as a “machine” by Klopp for his output and athleticism.
Huijsen can replicate the veteran, having already made a name for himself in England’s top flight on the south coast, earning acclaim and attracting attention from a host of Europe’s top outfits.
Moreover, Southampton qualified for the Europa League in 2015/16, right before Mane earned himself a one-way ticket to Anfield.
Bournemouth, of course, are eighth in the Premier League right now. They could grace the European scene next season. However, they won’t have Huijsen in their brood – hopefully, FSG will have pulled no punches in getting a deal done.
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1 ByEthan LambApr 24, 2025