Arsenal are keeping close tabs on Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, according to The Athletic.
The 17-year-old has already been given his first cap by the Netherlands at senior level, and he has even captained his club this season, with many believing he has a very bright future ahead of him.
Fans on X are very much backing a move for Hato and they are excited about the player’s potential:
He looks like a star in the making ⭐️⭐️⭐️
— Theo Forrest (@TheoForrest23) December 27, 2023
Finally Zinchenko replacement
— Abdul967 (@recanated) December 28, 2023
This guy looks like Saliba or is it only my eyes😂😂😂
— Farrell Fia (@farrell_fia) December 27, 2023
He looks good 😊
— Isaq (@YYengiisaac64) December 27, 2023
This is another William Saliba
— Wyse Xperience (@WyseXperience) December 27, 2023
Plays like someone that'll never be scared to mark salah.
— Tajada (@badboytegs) December 27, 2023
He has that little similarity with timber !
He sounds to be generations of talent 💯— Jaidy Touray (@Jaidy_gunners) December 27, 2023
He’s built for this Arsenal squad and at only 17 he has massive potential to become world class! Also he can play both Centre back & left back so again versatile which is what Mikel certainly looks for in a player 👍
— Dan Stevens! (@SnapzzyArtist10) December 27, 2023
Hato fits Arsenal’s system perfectly
The teenager is equally comfortable playing as a centre-half or left-back, and that means he could slot very easily into Mikel Arteta’s system.
Hato could be deployed as the inverted fullback on the left-hand side, or provide cover for Gabriel in the centre of defence.
Arsenal have been looking at 2 other centre-backs
The Athletic claim that the Gunners are also keen on Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck and Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt but they are not thought to be realistic targets for the January transfer window.
Due to Financial Fair Play rules, both players are currently well beyond the club’s price range. There are questions over whether Arsenal can afford Hato either, with Ajax unlikely to let him go for a low sum, so we shall have to wait and see whether Arteta’s side make an approach next month.
