Newcastle United have 'held meetings' with £50m defender's camp ahead of summer bid but there is one big problem

Last night it was revealed that Newcastle United signed up Jamaal Lascelles to a contract extension last year under the radar with many people expecting the club captain to leave this summer when his contract expired.

However, the fact that Lascelles now has a contract extension beyond this campaign isn't expected to have any bearing on the club's plans to sign a right-sided centre-back in this summer's transfer window.

Newcastle are woefully understaffed in central defence with Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, both into their thirties having to hold the fort all season.

Eddie Howe is hoping Newcastle can bring in some new, younger talent to pack out the roster in defence and Bournemouth's teenage sensation Dean Huijsen is high on his priority list.

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Newcastle should have gone for Huijsen last summer

Newcastle passed up the opportunity to sign Dean Huijsen in the summer with Bournemouth swooping and picking up the Spain international for around £12 million. He will now cost Newcastle (or whoever) over four times that amount this summer with his £50 million release clause becoming active at the end of the season.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has spoken about Liverpool's interest in signing Dean Huijsen, but he also notes that Arsenal and Chelsea are in the mix and high up on the list for Huijsen's next destination.

Meanwhile, Newcastle and Tottenham are also keen with all the aforementioned clubs apparently having held talks with Huijsen's camp recently.

Real Madrid could be the biggest threat to Newcastle's chances of landing Dean Huijsen

Despite Ornstein placing Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea high on the list, there's a big feeling amongst journalists that if Real Madrid make their interest known, that's where Huijsen would prefer to go.

Although Huijsen is Dutch-born, he has opted to represent Spain at international level and grew up admiring Real Madrid. But, as yet, Madrid don't appear to be making any moves towards a bid for Huijsen with Ornstein saying he thinks it's probable that he will remain in the Premier League.

Virgil van Dijk has just signed a new contract at Liverpool, and that may sway Huijsen's decision-making as he's likely to want regular first-team football should he move. That should put Newcastle higher on the list, as we're not sure he will walk into Arsenal or Chelsea's back four. There's still hope for the Magpies, but it's not going to be easy.