Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal scout Ajax defender Jorrel Hato

Premier League trio Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in signing Ajax left-back Jorrel Hato.

A product of the famed Ajax academy, Jorrel Hato, 19, made his senior team debut in January 2023 and has since not looked back. The teenager made 46 appearances for Ajax in an otherwise torrid last season. He has already racked up 42 outings this season, registering three goals and six assists in the process.

The six-cap Netherlands international is regarded as one of the best full-back prospects in the Eredivisie, which has led to him being linked with several top clubs across Europe. Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have reportedly scouted Hato in recent matches and are set to intensify their interest in signing him this summer.

Ajax talent Jorrel Hato on the radar of Premier League troika

Hato has had two back-to-back strong seasons at Ajax, and as a result, he is set to enter the summer transfer market as one of the hugely coveted youngsters.

Chelsea’s interest in the Ajax left-back is not surprising considering their transfer policy of investing in highly-rated talents across the world under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital regime. They require a reliable left-back to compete and cover for Marc Cucurella, something Renato Veiga couldn’t provide after arriving from FC Basel last summer and was loaned out to Juventus in January. Hato, in that regard, would be a good option for them.

As for Liverpool, Arne Slot is eyeing a long-term replacement for Andy Robertson, whose performance levels have dipped this season. The Scotland skipper has looked leggy, lacking the gusto and energy with which he marauded the left flank during the Jurgen Klopp era. Also, Kostas Tsimikas has not done enough to suggest he could be the in-house successor for Robertson. So, a player of Hato’s talent and potential would be welcomed by the Anfield chiefs.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are well-stocked in the left-back department. They signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna last summer as an upgrade on Oleksandr Zinchenko. Mikel Arteta has also overseen the rise of Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly in the first team, while Kieran Tierney is still on the books of Arsenal. Thus, there is certainly not that much of an immediate requirement of Hato’s talents at the Emirates Stadium right now.

Truth be told, the ideal destination for Hato would be Liverpool. A settled club with great ambitions and clear pathway for young talents to develop and unlock their potential, the Ajax left-back would be wise to accept a move to the Reds if they make an offer this summer.

I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.