Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in signing Ajax defender Jorrel Hato at the end of the season but may have to pay a staggering £86m for his signature, according to football news.
The 18-year-old defender is highly valued in Holland and has a great future ahead of him. Therefore, it is no surprise that clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool are following him closely.
The report says Arsenal have been monitoring Hato closely ahead of a potential summer swoop. Liverpool are also interested because they see Hato as the 'new Virgil van Dijk'.
Liverpool could certainly do with a central defender in the summer, especially with Joel Matip becoming a free agent. Hato could complete his defensive unit alongside Joe Gómez, Ibrahima Konate and van Dijk.
However, signing the youngster will not be easy as he recently signed a new long-term contract with Ajax that does not include a release clause. That means Ajax can demand whatever they want for him, and Dutch journalist Süleyman Öztürk has warned that the defender could cost around £86m.
He said: “This is a player who represents a transfer worth one hundred million euros, if you think about the future. Perhaps he will be the first Ajax player sold for more than one hundred million euros.”
Jorrel Hato is overvalued at £86 million
It will be interesting to see whether Liverpool or Arsenal are willing to spend big money to sign the highly rated central defender. Hato is versatile enough to also operate as a full-back, but it seems his future lies at center back.
He has all the tools to become a top-class defender in the near future and a move to Liverpool or Arsenal could accelerate his development and help him reach his true potential.
Arsenal need to strengthen their attack this summer, so they will spend £86 million on a central defender, especially when they have players like William SalibaGabriel Magalhaes, Ben White and Jurrien Timber available, it seems unnecessary.
That could make Liverpool the most likely destination if Hato arrives in England. However, it is fair to assume that Ajax will have to reduce their demands for the move to go ahead.
