Arsenal’s stance towards Jorrel Hato summer move as Liverpool and Chelsea scouts watch Ajax gem in action

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TBR Football can exclusively confirm that Chelsea and Liverpool have been scouting Jorrel Hato in wake of links between the Ajax prodigy and Arsenal.

Jorrel Hato has made a name for himself as one of the best young defenders in the game, leading to interest from some of the world’s biggest clubs.

In January, it was reported that Arsenal were continuing to monitor Hato’s progress as they looked for an alternative to Jakub Kiwior.

Now, TBR Football can reveal how Arsenal now feel about potentially moving for the 18-year-old amid interest from Liverpool and Chelsea.

READ MORE: Liverpool up against Manchester City and Chelsea for young duo likened to Robert Lewandowski and Bernardo Silva

Arsenal cool interest in Jorrel Hato as Liverpool and Chelsea scouts watch player

TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey has confirmed that Chelsea and Liverpool were both in attendance in Amsterdam last week to see Ajax in action twice.

We are told that both Premier League clubs saw successive 2-1 Ajax wins over Galatasaray and rivals Feyenoord respectively.

TBR Football understand that the reason for their attendance was to check on Hato, who is already on five caps for the Netherlands.

The 18-year-old left-back was initially a target for Arsenal.

However, since signing Riccardo Calafiori and with the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly, their need on that side of their defence has lessened.

Our information suggests that both Chelsea and Liverpool have been following Hato’s progress for more than 12 months.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool are considering bolstering their left-back options this summer and Hato is on their radar.

Despite being just 18, Hato has already played just shy of 100 first-team games for Ajax.

What Hato could bring to the Premier League

It’s not that common to see an 18-year-old footballer on 94 appearances for a top-flight club and on five caps for his nation, but Hato is not a typical footballer.

Fabrizio Romano wrote about Hato in May: “Arsenal keep monitoring Ajax young centre-back Jorrel Hato as one of the best talents in Europe in his position.”

Meanwhile, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout has sung Hato’s praises, comparing him to Lucas Hernandez and Evan Ndicka.

Kulig deemed him a “complete and dominant centre-back” who is “forceful, quick and powerful”.

Hato is also “known for his good timing, confidence in possession, understanding of the game, and an above-average technical capacity”.

Hato used to play alongside Jurrien Timber at Ajax and previously said he’s modelled his game on the Arsenal ace.

“Coaches told me that I always needed to look up to Virgil van Dijk, but when I played in the Under-18s, I always looked up to Jurrien Timber,” he said.

“When I came into the first team, he was my mentor. I love his playing style, his calmness on the ball. And he is just a great defender in defending terms.”