Dean Huijsen’s Real Madrid future plunged into doubt just six months after historic transfer

Dean Huijsen arrived at the Bernabeu with high expectations.

Real Madrid beat a host of Premier League clubs to Huijsen’s signature as they forked out £50million to sign the centre-back from Bournemouth last May, making him the club’s most expensive defender in history.

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The 20-year-old emerged as one of football’s brightest talents under Cherries boss Andoni Iraola and Madrid wanted the youngster to be a leading presence in their defensive unit for years to come.

However, Huijsen’s stint in the Spanish capital has not exactly gone to plan.

Huijsen’s rocky beginning to life in Madrid

A red card early in his Madrid career didn’t help proceedings while a string of injuries has forced the Spain international to miss eight matches.

But Huijsen’s rough start to life at Madrid has also been hampered by an alarming level of instability around him.

David Alaba has started two games all season having been either left on the bench or absent due to a calf injury, Antonio Rudiger spent the first part of the season sidelined with a hamstring issue while Eder Militao has been out since December 7 due to a ruptured biceps femoris tendon in his left leg.

Why has Huijsen struggled to find his feet at the Bernabeu?

Speaking to talkSPORT.com, European football expert Andy Brassell felt the constant injuries at the back for Madrid have presented a major headache for Huijsen, although it could be solved by a midfield star shuffling into a defensive role.

“So, really, we’re left in a situation where Huijsen needs to be fit and needs to have a partnership with someone who can really help him settle,” Brassell said.

“So, that’s probably, at the moment, Aurelien Tchouameni. He went to centre-back in the Supercoppa (Spanish Super Cup) finals as well. So, maybe that’s the idea. But it still feels experimental.”

Brassell added: “So, all of a sudden, after one pretty good season in the Premier League for not one of its elite clubs, Huijsen is expected to be a defensive leader for Real Madrid.

“And it’s just too soon. He needs help around him.”

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If injuries to Huijsen’s defensive partners wasn’t enough, the 20-year-old is now onto his second coach of the season after Madrid sacked Xabi Alonso following defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Alvaro Arbeloa, a former defender himself, was immediately installed as Alonso’s replacement but didn’t exactly inspire confidence in his first match as he oversaw Madrid crash out of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a shock 3-2 loss to second tier outfit Albacete.

More uncertainty awaits for Huijsen given Alaba and Rudiger are out of contract at the end of the season, with Brassell tipping Los Blancos to move for ‘an experienced centre-back’.

“That’s what’s going to keep Huijsen,” Brassell said.

“Because if they were to sell him tomorrow, if they decided that’s it, firstly, they’re creating a massive problem for themselves because it’s just another central defender that they’ve got to buy.

“And maybe they need to buy one, maybe they need to buy two at the moment. It’s at least one, and I think two is probably more desirable, regardless of whether Huijsen goes or not.

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“So, if you get rid of him, you’ve got another one to add to that.”

Who could sign Huijsen if Madrid cut their losses?

However, if Madrid decide one season of Huijsen was enough, they won’t be short of clubs ready to take the talented youngster off their hands.

When it comes to Madrid recouping the £50m outlay, Brassell said it’s something that would be ‘maybe relatively easily done’.

“Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea, just off the top of our heads for now, Real Madrid would stand quite a good chance of getting their money back,” Brassell said.

“So, if they’ve seen something in training which has made them say, ‘No, he’s not got it,’ maybe they would get an opportunity to do something about that, particularly after the World Cup.”

Newcastle were heavily linked with a swoop for Huijsen prior to his move to Madrid but missed out and signed Malick Thiaw from AC Milan instead.

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Huijsen was also wanted by Chelsea at the same time as Newcastle and the Blues’ have since been left short at centre-back following a long-term injury to Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana’s inability to remain fit.

Liverpool are expected to be in the market for a new centre-back given Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the season and does not look likely to prolong his stay at Anfield.

The Reds already came close to signing a new centre-back on deadline day last summer when they agreed a fee with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi, only for the deal to collapse.