In a recent print edition, The Sunday Mirror (21 April, Page 70) claimed that Newcastle United are hoping to recruit Juventus defender Dean Huijsen who is currently playing on loan at AS Roma. It has been stated that the Magpies are eyeing a move to bring the Spanish centre-half to St. James’ Park in the summer.
Huijsen’s Impressive Form In Italian Football
Huijsen is enjoying a great loan spell at Roma after he put in a run of impressive displays at the heart of their backline. The Spaniard has played in 25 matches for the Italian club this season, finding the back of the net twice and picking up two assists in multiple competitions.
The 19-year-old has made most of his appearances off the bench which explains why he is only averaging 0.7 tackles and 2.0 clearances per game in Serie A. He has even been excellent when distributing the ball from the back based on his pass completion rate of 86.1% in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current deal at his parent club Juventus will run out in the summer of 2028. Thus, Newcastle would find it difficult to bring him on board for a reduced fee later this year.
Should Newcastle United Boss Eddie Howe Go For Huijsen?
Huijsen is a decent tackler of the ball and usually clears the danger when the opposition are on the offensive. He is a good passer of the ball as well and can use his towering 1.97m frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. However, the Spanish prospect is still quite raw and would need time to prove his worth at the highest level.
At the moment, Huijsen is enjoying his football while on loan at Roma. However, there are some concerns over whether he is good enough to adapt to the high intensity of Premier League football if the Magpies manage to get a deal done for him at the end of this season.
We can expect Huijsen to add more bite and steel to Newcastle‘s defence. He has what it takes to increase competition for places within Eddie Howe’s match-day squad and could help the Tyneside club compete across all fronts in the future.
