Newcastle United were seriously interested in signing Dean Huijsen before he completed a dream move to La Liga giants Real Madrid.
Before the transfer window opened, reports stated that the Magpies were keen to sign a young centre-back to succeed either Fabian Schar or Dan Burn.
After a sensational season with Bournemouth, Dean Huijsen was on the radar of several huge clubs in Europe, and Newcastle United were one of them. The young defender was not short of options, but Eddie Howe and his recruitment team were keen to secure his signature.
Talks took place between Newcastle and Huijsen in the early parts of the summer transfer window, but in the end, the bright lights of Real Madrid were far too appealing. There is no malice between the Newcastle fans and Huijsen for moving to Spain. Joining a club like Real Madrid is a dream for any player, let alone a Spanish international like Huijsen.
With the dust settled and the player enjoying life in Spain, Huijsen’s agent has opened up about the interest of his client during the summer.
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Reports during the summer stated that Huijsen was very impressed with Newcastle’s proposal, citing their diligence and professionalism. However, it did not stop him joining Xabi Alonso in Madrid.
The 20-year-old has since made his debut for the Spanish giants, helping them win their opening four games while conceding just twice. Huijsen could become one of the top defenders in the world if he keeps his form up, leaving Newcastle fans wondering what could have been if he had opted to move to the North East of England rather than the middle of Spain.
In an interview with AS, agent Ali Barat revealed that Newcastle were firmly in the running to sign Huijsen.
“We always thought Real Madrid would come: Dean is a fantastic player, and after the two games with the national team, Juni [Calafat] contacted us, and everything moved very quickly, honestly,” he said.
“Absolutely. When they came along, it was an easy decision: there were many clubs, but with Real Madrid, there was no doubt.
“Chelsea wanted him, even since January. They were the first big club really interested, but Bournemouth didn’t want to sell in January, and his release clause wasn’t active then, only in the summer, he added.
“And of course, after playing for the national team, we had about seven big clubs: Bayern, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle… They all wanted Dean to be honest.”
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Newcastle United should still be pleased with Dean Huijsen’s alternative
Barat was also involved in talks between Newcastle and Hugo Ekitike. The Magpies were believed to be close to a deal for the Frenchman before Liverpool swooped in and stole a march.
Huijsen will be deemed one who got away from Newcastle, even if they stood little chance of competing with Real for his signature. The defender has the chance to become a generational talent, and at just 20 years old, he has already gained so much experience in the game.
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While missing out on Huijsen was a blow, Newcastle should be very pleased with the fact that they signed Malick Thiaw as his alternative. The 24-year-old has only played twice so far this season, but has enjoyed a bright start on Tyneside.
Many fans were impressed with Thiaw during Newcastle’s game against Barcelona on Thursday night, where he played his part in Anthony Gordon’s goal against Hansi Flick’s side.
Thiaw is the heir to Schar’s place in Newcastle’s starting XI, with Sven Botman the most likely replacement for Burn.
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