BBC Sport: How Newcastle could win race to sign £50m Dean Huijsen - Two key factors

Newcastle United have been handed a boost in our pursuit for Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen as we look to strengthen our defence ahead of the new season.

Rumours have been swirling around the future of the Spaniard, though there are several top clubs who are also intrigued by his significant potential.

Newcastle, however, could have something that separates us from a number of clubs and we will be hoping to have everything in place to persuade Huijsen to join Tyneside.

BBC reveal key factors in Huijsen race

BBC Sport have issued an update on Dean Huijsen’s future, revealing two factors that could help Newcastle United land the Bournemouth star despite strong links to Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

With five games remaining in this Premier League season, the Magpies have it in entirely our own hands to make Champions League as we currently sit in fifth place ahead of Aston Villa and Chelsea with the latter yet to visit St James' Park.

A win this weekend against Ipswich would increase the gap between us and Villa to five points and hand us a huge boost to our UCL hopes, a competition that Huijsen is believed to be very interested in playing in.

That isn't the only key factor, as the 20-year-old is also looking for regular playing time, according to BBC Sport. This is something he could be guaranteed at Newcastle with Eddie Howe clearly looking for a long-term partner for Sven Botman as Dan Burn and Fabian Schar entering the twilight years of their careers.

While some of the other Champions League clubs may seem like a better option on paper, it's not necessarily a guarantee he would be starting week in week out. For example, are starts really guaranteed at Arsenal or Liverpool?

Newcastle to spend big on new defender

BBC Sport add that the signing of a new centre-back looks set to be prioritised this summer.

While all of the talk was previously around a new right winger being a top priority - which it still will be - the defeat to Aston Villa proved just how equally important it could be to bring in fresh blood in the defence.

Burn and Fabian Schar are both top professionals and have performed well together throughout the year, but they are 32 and 33 respectively and their ages certainly showed against a pacey Villa front line on Saturday.

We saw last summer just how willing we were to pay a top price for a centre back, with multiple bids of £60-£70m being rejected for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi. Almost a full season later, there's every chance we make a big move for another.