Real Madrid’s main opposition in the race to sign emerging Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen is Chelsea, reports in Spain say.

The immensely skilled 19-year-old, born in the Netherlands, debuted internationally for Spain during the Nations League on Thursday — coincidentally against his birthplace country. He has become a fixture in transfer rumor sections lately, following the revelation of a £50m release clause embedded in his Vitality Stadium contract.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Carabao Cup champions Newcastle United have all been associated with interest in Huijsen. He joined Bournemouth from Juventus in a transaction valued at just over £12m last July. However, it’s the ties to Real Madrid that have intensified recently.

Huijsen has not done much to dampen the rumors, recently commenting on Madrid’s interest, “It’s an honor to have such a big team interested in you; it’s something special and it means you’re doing well.”

Spanish publication MARCA report that scouts were in attendance to watch Huijsen play for Spain against the Netherlands, leaving both Madrid and Chelsea fully convinced that he has the ability to play for them.

The hostile environment Spain encountered, and the measured approach Huijsen took to his first international, is said to have been particularly pleasing to Madrid’s hierarchy, with the scrutiny of playing for arguably the biggest club in world football significantly higher than what he’s used to facing at Bournemouth.

Madrid’s interest is no surprise given the injury problems Carlo Ancelotti has encountered this season. Eder Militao ruptured his ACL in November to be ruled out for the remainder of the season, while David Alaba is still getting up to speed after recovering from the same injury. Antonio Rudiger has also spent time out of the team too, leaving academy graduate Raul Asencio to establish himself as an important first-team player.

Chelsea have encountered similar issues, leading the club to recall Trevoh Chalobah from a loan spell at Crystal Palace. Huijsen would undoubtedly add quality to Chelsea’s backline and has shown he can cope with the demands of the Premier League – his seamless transition into Bournemouth’s exceptionally well coached side a feather in the cap of a teenager who rightly opted to leave Juventus in pursuit of regular action.