Liverpool is reportedly interested in signing Ajax midfielder Jurrel Hato, a young Dutch talent who has caught the attention of Liverpool’s board of directors. If Hato joins Liverpool, he could become the new defensive stalwart alongside Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool’s interest in Hato arises from concerns about the age of their key defender, Virgil van Dijk, who has recently made some mistakes and received a red card from the referee.
At 32 years old, Van Dijk’s performance may be affected by his age. In contrast, Hato, who hasn’t celebrated his 18th birthday yet, brings youthfulness to the squad, making him a potential replacement for Van Dijk in the future.
Despite being just 17 years old, Hato has already played for the Ajax first team. In the last season, he participated in 11 Eredivisie matches, and this season, he has played in five matches across all competitions.
Ajax has recently sold or loaned out several defenders, including Jurriën Timber, Kik Pierie, Devyne Rensch, and Jorge Sánchez. This demonstrates the trust that the coaching staff at Ajax has in Hato, who has consistently started and played every match since the beginning of the season.
Hato’s strengths include his strength, agility, positional awareness, and versatility. In addition to his preferred center-back position, he can also play as a left-wing back when needed.
According to Dutch media reports, Ajax’s board of directors is considering extending Hato’s contract to prevent other teams, including Liverpool, from poaching their “precious gem.”
Given his youth and potential, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hato represent the Dutch national team in the near future.
