Xabi Alonso Urges Dean Huijsen Chelsea Move Amid Real Madrid Uncertainty

Xabi Alonso will implore Chelsea to move for Dean Huijsen if the Dutch-born defender falls victim to the politics threatening to engulf Real Madrid, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The 21-year-old was Alonso’s first new signing after being appointed Real Madrid’s head coach last summer. 

Although the former Liverpool midfielder’s spell in the Spanish capital ended in acrimonious circumstances, with Florentino Perez confirming his departure after only eight months at the helm following a public fall-out with Vinicius Junior, Alonso’s relationship with Huijsen is understood to have remained intact. 

And that, given the upheaval Los Blancos have experienced since replacing him with Alvaro Arbeloa, means he is set to ask Stamford Bridge’s board of directors to submit a bid for the young centre-half if new boss Jose Mourinho deems him surplus to requirements after Perez was re-elected last night.

Although Alonso has stressed the need for Chelsea to focus on experienced, tried and tested performers during this summer’s transfer window after identifying a lack of leadership within their squad, he is ready to make an exception in the case of Huijsen.

Chelsea are also exploring a bold double raid on Real Madrid, with Turkish starboy Arda Güler among their top targets as they reportedly prepare a potential £100m bid to test Los Blancos’ resolve.

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Although he does not turn 22 until April, the defender has already amassed a combined total of more than 70 appearances in the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga. 

Even more importantly, Huijsen’s skill set is perfectly aligned with the tactical strategy Alonso prefers to employ after enjoying great success with Bayer Leverkusen before heading to Madrid.

Comfortable in possession, a progressive passer of the ball and combative when required, Huijsen has also collected seven caps for Spain after switching his international allegiance. 

Suited to being deployed in a back three, the system Alonso is expected to adopt once he acclimatises to life in west London, Huijsen’s £60m valuation still represents good value for a club whose business model relies on buying low and selling high, given the steep upward trajectory of the player’s career.

After graduating from Juventus’ youth programme, Huijsen then joined AFC Bournemouth, having completed a spell at Roma on loan. 

At Alonso’s behest, he then arrived at the Bernabeu after impressing on the south coast.