Fabrizio Romano: Chelsea now want to sign £50m star "by the end of May"

Chelsea are now aiming to seal the signing of a key target by the end of this month, according to Fabrizio Romano, and Enzo Maresca’s side are very keen to strike a deal for the player as soon as possible.

Chelsea set for “huge” Premier League clash with Newcastle United

On the field, Chelsea are putting full focus into their race for Champions League qualification, and face a “huge” trip to St James’ Park, where they will take on fellow top-five contenders Newcastle United.

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The Stamford Bridge recruiter is very keen.

Chelsea will be fully aware of the tough task facing them on Sunday, having already lost at St. James’ in the Carabao Cup this season, but they’ll also go into the contest on a high after beating Premier League champions Liverpool last weekend.

Maresca’s side have picked up form again, winning their last three league games, with Newcastle coming as a very well-matched opponent. Both sides are level on points and goal difference, but a win up north has the power to all but seal Chelsea’s place in the Champions League draw next season, depending on results elsewhere.

“It’s a big one, it’s a huge one,” said Maresca on Chelsea’s clash with Newcastle.

“United will be a big one, Forest will be a big one. Now we have three more games, all of them are going to be big games. For sure, Sunday is a chance to start in the right way. We are on a good run, in a good mood, and hopefully, we can play a good game and win the game.”

Maintaining their place in the top five and qualifying for the Champions League will also have a knock-on effect when it comes to their summer transfer plans, as already confirmed by Maresca, so a lot is on the line.

Chelsea want to sign Dean Huijsen “by the end of May”

One of their top targets, according to widespread reports, is Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen.

The Spaniard’s £50 million release clause has piqued interest from across England and beyond, with Chelsea reliably believed to have held serious talks with Huijsen’s camp ahead of the summer window, which opens on June 1.

According to Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, Chelsea now want to seal a deal for Huijsen by the end of May, as they seek to finalise an agreement as soon as possible amid the fierce competition for his signature.

“The idea of the three main Premier League clubs involved in this story, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, is to do the deal now as soon as possible,” said Romano.

“Now it means by the end of May, so to close the deal this month.”

The 20-year-old has seriously impressed over his debut campaign in England, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp lavishing praise on Huijsen as an already “complete” defender.

“If you’re creating a footballer, the modern-day centre-back, you’ve got a bit of the influence from the Netherlands, the influence from Spain, where they come out with the ball and all the great defenders they’ve had,” said Redknapp.

“And then you’ve got that Italian mark on it as well, so the journey, the mixture that he’s got, is pretty perfect, and now he’s found himself in the Premier League. The elements are good, everything is right for him. You have to get all the right ingredients to be a top player.

“He’s a complete player, this young man.”