After a couple of disappointing losses to London rivals West Ham and Fulham during the festive season, Arsenal are looking to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta seems keen to bolster his defense this month and Jorrel Hato of Ajax has been reported as a transfer target for the club.
Arsenal Plotting Move for Ajax Defender Jorrel Hato
Jorrel Hato is regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting prospects 🙌#TelegraphFootball | #Gunners
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) January 4, 2024
One of Europe’s Most Exciting Prospects
According to Sam Dean of The Telegraph, Hato is on the transfer wishlist of the North London club. Despite Ajax’s rough start in the Eredivisie, the youngster has been a bright spot for the Dutch club. At 17 years of age, he is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in Europe. Despite his young age, the defender has already captained his club and made an international appearance for the Netherlands.
In a recent interview, Jorrel Hato spoke of his admiration for former Ajax star Jurrien Timber and also said he would one day like to follow in the footsteps of his former club teammate. He said: “Unfortunately he was seriously injured in his first Premier League game for Arsenal, but he is still young and has a bright future ahead of him.”
“In any case, the move to Arsenal was a wonderful one for him. It is also my dream to one day make such a transfer, but I realise that I still have a very long way to go.”
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How Does Jorrel Hato Fit Into Mikel Arteta’s Plans?
Hato is a versatile defender who is capable of playing as both a center-back and a left-back. Timber, who played as the left-back in the first game of the season is out with a long-term injury. Other replacements Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko have also struggled with recurring injuries.
This has forced Arteta to play the likes of Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel Magalhaes in an unfamiliar position many times this season.
The 17-year-old has played every minute of Ajax’s 16 league games this season and has emerged as a leader in the backline. He is a capable player in both attack and defence. This is highlighted by his 1.97 blocks, 2.63 clearances, and 2.5 aerials won every 90 minutes this season.
Furthermore, he is an ideal candidate to play the “inverted winger” role thanks to his 5.79 progressive passes and a high pass completion rate of 91% which both rank very highly for a full back. His capabilities could also help unlock Declan Rice’s box-to-box style of play.
Can Arsenal Secure a Deal in January?
As per Dean, Hato only has 18 months left on his current contract with the Amsterdam-based club, who want to tie him down with a long-term contract. A January move is not entirely impossible but would be a tough one for the Gunners to achieve. However, the journalist believes that a summer move is more likely when Arsenal are not constrained by Financial Fair Play rules.
Arsenal fans would be hoping that their club can get this talented player on their squad sooner rather than later.
