- Arsenal signed versatile defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax in a £40million deal
- Jorrel Hato has already captained Ajax despite being just 17 years of age still
- Sunderland could be the catalyst for real pressure to engulf Eddie Howe – It’s All Kicking Off
Arsenal are plotting a return to Ajax to reinforce their defence for the long-term, according to reports, with the club monitoring exciting teenager Jorrel Hato.
The Gunners signed Jurrien Timber from the troubled Dutch giants over the summer, only for the versatile defender to suffer a potentially season-ending cruciate ligament injury in his first match.
While still in the Premier League title race, Mikel Arteta‘s side have struggled for fitness in defence, particularly at left back.
Regular starter Oleksandr Zinchenko is now injured, while Takehiro Tomiyasu has been utilised on both flanks but is off to the Asia Cup with Japan and Jakub Kiwior has struggled to fill in on the left when called upon.
The Gunners have been monitoring Dutch wonderkid Hato and are thought to be mulling over a summer move, rather than a January transfer according to the Daily Telegraph.
Ajax’s versatile and talented young defender Jorrel Hato is reportedly of interest to Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s side are thin in the ranks in defence after injuries at left back and Takehiro Tomiyasu leaving for the Asia Cup
Hato is considered one of the continent’s most promising defensive talents, and is capable of playing both at left back and in the middle, with his versatility naturally drawing comparisons with that of Timber.
And the player has already admitted that a similar switch to the Premier League is one that he would be keen to make in the future.
‘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,’ the youngster told Dutch outlet ELF Voetbal in October.
‘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.’
While the Gunners are seemingly in need of reinforcing at the back in the short-term, it is thought…