Liverpool will have monitored Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, but it would be difficult to convince him to join as third choice in the pecking order, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed.
The Reds will take on Everton in the final Merseyside derby of the season on Wednesday, but they likely be forced to utilise Jarell Quansah at right-back given the injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley.
Centre-back Joe Gomez would have been an option, but the Englishman is also sidelined, and that will mean that boss Arne Slot may have to start all three of his available central defenders.
Lynch insisted that the Reds must sign a centre-back in the upcoming transfer window to address concerns in their squad, but added that he was sceptical about Huijsen's arrival despite interest in the 19-year-old.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch said: "I don't doubt for a second that they're looking at him. Obviously Richard Hughes knows a lot about him having signed him for Bournemouth, and Liverpool scouts aren't stupid - you see a centre-half of that age playing regularly and playing well in the Premier League, it'd be daft not to be keeping tabs on him.
"[He has] a really attractive release clause, so a lot to like about this one, but the one area I have a bit of scepticism with this move is will this be an easy sell to Dean Huijsen this summer? He's going to have a long list of top clubs who are going to be in for him especially at that price, and what Liverpool are looking for essentially this summer is someone to replace Joe Gomez.
"You're asking someone to come in as third-choice centre-half. There probably are minutes there [given] Konate can dip in and out and maybe won't be as fortunate with injuries next season as he has this season. Van Dijk will need to be rested more, but you are still third choice. When the biggest Premier League game comes around or the biggest Champions League game comes around, you are not going to be starting if you're Dean Huijsen."
Gomez was reportedly the subject of interest from Newcastle United and Crystal Palace in the past summer transfer window, and it would be surprising if the defender did not have suitors ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Other teams can offer Huijsen more
While Liverpool might not be in a position to offer playing time to Huijsen, other interested parties could be in a position to provide him with a starting spot.
The likes of Real Madrid are reported to be admirers, and Los Blancos are in need of rejuvenation in the backline, while others such as Newcastle United are looking to challenge for European spots.
Though Lynch acknowledged that Liverpool can offer some perks compared to other sides, he does not believe that the Merseysiders can provide enough to the Spaniard at this stage, telling Sports Mole: "He's only young and the opportunity is there to come in and learn from someone like Virgil van Dijk which would be really attractive, but the reality is he's playing week in week out at Bournemouth.
"When he does make the leap to a big club, why wouldn't he wait for someone who says 'we desperately need a starting centre-half to come in, and you are the one?' [He] might be someone who's a rung below Liverpool - Newcastle are interested and he would definitely start games there and it's a club with big ambitions. They just won a trophy beating Liverpool and are wanting to get in the Champions League.
"If you're Dean Huijsen and you're playing every week, why would you make that move now? When I say these things I get pushback about this on social media all the time but I don't think people are realistic about this. You have to sell it to the player and the player has to agree."
The Reds could move 12 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal with a victory against Everton, and given that they look certain to win the Premier League, any new signing would have to be of an exceptional standard to break into the first team.
© Imago
Are there flaws in Huijsen's game?
Though it would be harsh to be overly critical of Huijsen's performances on the south coast considering his young age, it should be noted that the centre-back has at times struggled to compete in the air.
In fact, the teenager has only won 59.3% of his 81 aerial duels in the Premier League, winning 48 and losing out on 33 occasions.
Lynch highlighted that his poor showings in the air would come into consideration by those responsible for transfers at Liverpool when he told Sports Mole: "[Aerial duels have been] top of the list for scouts in centre-halfs for a long time because Liverpool want to be a high-pressing side, and if you do that the ball is going to go long an awful lot.
"There are [also] other reasons to be sceptical about this one happening but I would [still] love to see Liverpool sign him because he is a fantastic young talent and that aerial duel success rate could fill out a bit because he's a child at the moment. Maybe that aerial duel percentage will creep up a little bit as he gets older."
Liverpool have traditionally signed centre-backs that are dominant in the air, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate boasting win percentages of 75.9% and 71.2% respectively in the league this season, the second and sixth best-figures in the entire division.
Lewis Nolan
