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Bournemouth center-back Dean Huijsen.(Image: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)

Liverpool's positioning in the impending summer battle over Bournemouth talent Dean Huijsen would appear to have been strengthened.

It has been claimed rivals Newcastle United are prepared to drop out of the race before it has even began.

Huijsen, 20, has enjoyed a stellar breakout campaign in the Premier League since arriving at the Cherries for £15.2m last summer.



He has made 32 appearances in all competitions, selected to start 27 of those games with the club still in the mix for European qualification at this late stage, and for his hard work was even rewarded with a Spanish national team debut in March.

Amid such promise the revelation of a £50m release clause existing for his next transfer has come to light, thus Liverpool's name has been predominantly included in reports about those in the top-flight seeking to recruit him when able.

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Also at the forefront of any Huijsen coverage have been Chelsea and Newcastle United - two clubs vying for Champions League football for next season - but now the i Paper would suggest the latter are downing tools and are ready to look elsewhere.

With the existence of the release clause, as long as clubs are willing to meet it, it comes down to which one can convince the player of their project.

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This latest report explains the Magpies have held talks with the Spaniard and 'feel that his interest is elsewhere'.

James' Park chiefs 'want to act quickly' in the market this summer, they are prepared to cut their losses with Huijsen sooner rather than later.

So this would ultimately be an advantage for Liverpool, who can boast to the player that they are the reigning English champions.

With Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk tied down for two more years, the club are in a position to immediately challenge for more major honours.

Though it must be considered that Chelsea will supposedly provide tough competition for the central defender's signature.

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Huijsen's representative, Ali Barat, alongside fellow intermediary Manuel Sierra was credited with being the man who brokered Moises Caicedo's preferred switch to Chelsea from Brighton when the Reds had actually outbid them at £111m in the summer of 2023.

Over the past 12 months Barat has since worked on several other deals with the London club, including Nicolas Jackson's improved contract, Ian Maatsen's transfer to Aston Villa; Conor Gallagher's switch to Atletico Madrid and Cesare Casadei's move to Torino.

That strong relationship between the player's agent and the Chelsea ownership will be in direct contention against Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and his good relationship with those working at former club Bournemouth.


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