Arsenal and Liverpool are set to go head-to-head this summer for the signature of highly-rated Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, according to TBR Football.
Hato has quickly risen to prominence as one of Europe’s brightest young talents since making his Eredivisie debut for Ajax in February 2023 against SC Cambuur.
At just 16 years and 335 days old, he became the club’s third-youngest league debutant. Now 19, the Netherlands international — capped six times — has already contributed eight goals from left-back, showcasing his attacking prowess alongside defensive solidity.
The report claims Arsenal have been monitoring Hato since he broke into the Ajax setup as a teenager, and despite having Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the same position, they remain eager to bring him to the Emirates.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have also stepped up their interest. The Merseyside club have sent scouts to track Hato’s progress this season, viewing him as a potential long-term replacement for Kostas Tsimikas, who is expected to leave Anfield in the summer.
With both Premier League giants keen, a bidding war could ensue. Hato’s price tag is expected to exceed his current €30m (£25m) Transfermarket valuation, and the coming months will reveal which club can secure the versatile defender’s signature.