Sources: Newcastle told what 'deciding factor' will be in £50m Huijsen hunt

03/30/2025 09:02 AM

Newcastle United qualifying for the Champions League will be a huge deciding factor in their pursuit of Dean Huijsen this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

Huijsen looks a certainty to be on the move from Bournemouth this summer with his contract at the Vitality Stadium including a £50million release clause, and a plethora of clubs interested in the teenager.

Newcastle are set to be in the market for a centre-back this summer and have identified Huijsen as a top target, but will face competition from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Chelsea among others.

Former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on that Liverpool are front-runners to sign the 19-year-old, as they plan to spend big on central defensive reinforcements.

However, sources have told Football Insider that while Huijsen is set to be one of the most in-demand players in Europe this summer, Newcastle have an ace up their sleeves in the race to sign the Spaniard.

Champions League qualification could see Newcastle – arguably football’s richest club and well capable of paying that £50m release clause – move ahead of the competition and provide a huge pull for Huijsen.

Dean Huijsen set to dominate summer transfer window

Few Premier League centre-backs have stolen the headlines quite like Huijsen this season; a cornerstone of Bournemouth’s rise and a cool, calming presence in defence, as well as a goal threat at the other end.

Liverpool are far from the only club in for central defensive reinforcements this summer, but stepping into Virgil van Dijk’s shoes could be a tantalising prospect for Huijsen if he does opt for a move to Anfield.

Football Insider were told on 26 March that Van Dijk potentially moving to Real Madrid instead of Huijsen could open the door for him to move to Liverpool, but Newcastle will also be keen to remain in the hunt.

Seismic summer window on the cards for Newcastle

Eddie Howe has not only become the first Newcastle manager in 70 years to lift silverware in the form of the EFL Cup, he could also lead them into the Champions League for the second time in three seasons.

Champions League football will be key to the kinds of players Newcastle can sign this summer, and Paul Robinson told Football Insiderthey’re currently at a disadvantage in the race for Wolves’ Matheus Cunha.

Howe is on the hunt for reinforcements in three key positions regardless of whether the Magpies re-join Europe’s elite next season, with Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah identified as an alternative to Huijsen.

Huijsen looks set to be the gold-standard of European centre-backs for years to come, and it remains to be seen how his, Van Dijk’s and Quansah’s movements decide the outcome of this summer’s window.

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