Arsenal and Manchester United have joined Real Madrid in the race to sign Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen. Huijsen, 19, has quickly established himself as a regular at the heart of Andoni Iraola’s defence following a £13million move from Juventus to the Vitality Stadium in the summer transfer window.
![[Manchester United FC v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2191061025.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The imposing 6 ft 5 in centre-half has caught the eye with a string of assured defensive displays while providing a strong aerial presence at the other end of the pitch, heading home important goals against both Tottenham and Manchester United in recent weeks.
![[AFC Bournemouth Training Session]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2190532974.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Huijsen’s first-half winner in Bournemouth’s 1-0 victory over Spurs saw the teenager became the club’s youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. According to Spanish publication AS, Huijsen’s performances have not gone unnoticed amongst Europe’s elite, with Madrid keeping close tabs on the Spain Under-21 international this season.
![[Arsenal FC v Manchester United FC - Premier League]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2188273190.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
It’s claimed Huijsen has been ‘in the Madrid spotlight for years’ having turned Los Blancos down in favour of a move to Juve – while aged just 16 -back in 2021. The report adds that Arsenal and Manchester United are providing competition for Huijsen and have started to ‘position themselves with enquiries about his contract situation’. However, neither club have begun concrete talks at this stage.
