Arsenal have held meetings or conversations with the camp of Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen in the last week, but it is unknown whether any concrete offers have been tabled, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.
The Gunners are keen on the Spain international, with manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta huge fans, but they are not the only club interested in recruiting his services, with Real Madrid, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool also keen.
Arsenal have both Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba as their first-choice centre-backs, with Jakub Kiwior as a cover, but the Poland international continues to be linked with an exit, and the club could go for Huijsen.
The 19-year-old has a release clause of £50 million, which the North Londoners and other suitors could look to activate in the summer transfer window.
Saliba has also been linked with a move to Madrid, but the 3-0 victory over the La Liga club in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-final could see him change his mind as Arteta continues to build a formidable squad.
Adding Huijsen to their team will make Arsenal even better defensively and further strengthen their squad depth, but the teenager will be desperate to join a side where he is guaranteed regular playing chances, and it remains to be seen whether that will be available at the Emirates Stadium club right now.
The Spaniard has featured in 29 games across all competitions for the Cherries so far in 2024-25, starting 24 times, and he needs to continue seeing action frequently to remain a Spain international and keep his steady development going.
Signing a striker is top of the priority for Arsenal ahead of the summer transfer window, but losing Kiwior, Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko could force them to go after another defender, and Huijsen fits the bill.
