Insider: Two Premier League teams now ahead of Chelsea in race for their top defensive target | OneFootball

Chelsea are in the market for a few positions this summer, with striker being the obvious one.

But there’s also been a lot of talk about a central defender. With Wesley Fofana now sadly considered a spent force unlikely to ever be able to be relied upon, it looks like the Blues are keen to sign another elite option in that position.

For a long time it’s felt like Dean Huijsen is that man. The Bournemouth defender is hot property, with numerous teams in the Premier League and abroad linked. But despite the interest from elsewhere, Chelsea seemed to have been winning the race.

While our aim of bringing him in in time for the Club World Cup always felt ambitious, it did seem like we would get our man eventually, assuming Real Madrid didn’t make a sudden move.

German insider puts two Premier League teams ahead of Chelsea in Huijsen race

However a report from German insider Florian Plettenberg has cast serious doubt on that. He says that Arsenal and Liverpool are in “pole position”, Real Madrid “remain keen,” and he’s even brough Bayern Munich into the mix. Chelsea aren’t even mentioned.

Florian Plettenberg on Dean Huijsen.

The one thing Chelsea can offer ahead of Huijsen rivals

Plettenberg adds the interesting detail that the clause can be paid in three instalments. If Chelsea are happy with that they can put an offer in right now – the problem then just becomes whether the Spain international wants to come here.

Liverpool and Arsenal can offer better, more developed sporting projects right now, that’s for sure. As, of course, can Bayern and Real.

The advantage Chelsea have is that they can guarantee Huijsen first team action from the moment he arrives, while our rivals all have more established existing central defensive partnerships which will need him to break into.