Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted Ajax defender Jorrell Hato as a potential replacement for Jakub Kiwior who is attracting transfer interest from the Serie A.
Kiwior has failed to establish a consistent role for himself at the Emirates after he joined from Italian side Spezia in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £17m.
He has taken a squad role in Mikel Arteta‘s side and is currently filling in at centre-back in place of Gabriel who suffered a season-ending hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 2-1 win against Fulham after the international break.
Since joining the club in 2023, the Polish defender has made just 59 appearances, with the majority being from the bench. Reports emerged earlier in the season that he was attracting interest from the likes of Napoli and AC Milan, and so Arsenal could decide to cash in on the 25-year-old this summer.
If they do, then they will need to find a replacement, and they have reportedly shortlisted one in the form of Ajax defender Jorrell Hato.
According to the Mirror, Hato has been on Arsenal’s radar since summer 2023, when they signed Kiwior, but they have been yet to make a move for the Dutch international.
However, the report says that that Arteta is a big fan of Hato due to his versatility, as he is able to play both at left-back and centre-back, making him an ideal squad depth player.
The 19-year-old has made 45 appearances for Ajax this season, scoring three goals and providing six assists, mainly playing as a full-back in Francesco Farioli’s side.
Arsenal face competition to sign Hato
The Gunners aren’t the only Premier League team that is reportedly keen on the Dutchman, as Liverpool are said to have bee long-term admirers of the defender, as they look for a replacement for Andy Robertson.
With his value estimated to be around £25m, Ajax are expected to command a hefty asking price for the 19-year-old who has been touted to become one of the best defenders in Europe.
Speaking to SoccerNewsNL, Ajax boss Farioli praised Hato and tipped him for big things in his career. He said: “Jorrel is a player with an amazing career. If he maintains his humility and eagerness to learn and work, I wish myself the chance to coach him in the future and next season.”
