Liverpool are interested in a move for Bournemouth’s star defender Dean Huijsen, talkSPORT understands.

This season, the 19-year-old center back has truly impressed on the south coast and recently earned his inaugural call-up to the Spanish national team after developing his skills in the Netherlands during his youth career.

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Associated with several major European clubs, the ex-Juventus and Roma defender is reportedly at the forefront of Real Madrid’s summer targets, as reported by MARCA.

Huijsen expressed his appreciation for the rumors, stating he felt ‘flattered’ by the connection to Los Blancos, who are also reportedly considering Arsenal’s William Saliba.

However, Liverpool may well need Huijsen more and have more game time to offer, given that captain and key defender Virgil van Dijk is approaching free agent status with a new contract nowhere to be seen.

Amsterdam-born Huijsen has a £50million release clause, and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes previously worked with the Cherries.

Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez is also on the Reds’ radar, having shone this season while Andy Robertson has struggled on Merseyside.

Hughes will have signed the Hungarian left back at Bournemouth, but not the Spanish defender.

The Cherries are well on course for their best ever season, and look set for a debut European campaign in 2025/26, with a Champions League berth still on the cards.

Andoni Iraola’s side have conceded the fifth fewest goals in the league, with their defence standing out.

Discussing Huijsen, the Basque coach said: “I didn’t know about his mentality because when you sign someone that is 19, you see, okay, it looks like he’s going to be a good player.

“But you are not sure if he’s ready to perform straight away against the best opposition. That is what he’s facing in the Premier League.

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“And he showed since the first day, I think he started playing the season against Forest. He played really well.

On his best attributes, Iraola said: “I think his mentality, his head.

“I think he’s confident. He is not afraid of marking any forward and I think he’s calm on the ball.

“He knows what he’s doing, he’s under control. Sometimes he will make mistakes like all the others, but there is always a reason for the things he does.

“And for someone that is 19, it’s really strange to find this at this level.”

Despite being on course for just their second league title in 35 years, Liverpool look set for a rebuild in the summer.

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The club restructured their management and scouting department in the summer following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, and signed just one player in £14m Federico Chiesa from Juventus.

Speaking to the BBC in January, new head coach Arne Slot said: “I do know that in the background we are definitely working on strengthening the squad in the summer.

“That would mean, in my opinion, that we will be able to challenge for every trophy we play for.”

Van Dijk isn’t the only player whose contract is expiring in the summer, with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold also approaching departures, the latter to Madrid.

Next summer Ibrahima Konate and Robertson also have contracts expiring, and fill the positions that Huijsen and Kerkez do at Bournemouth.