In the summer, Arsenal needed a left-sided defender. They combed the transfer market for a quality left-sided defender and settled on Bologna’s resurgent defender Riccardo Calafiori.
Calafiori’s brilliant 2023-24 and his quality performances with Italy at Euro 2024 in Germany convinced Arsenal he’s the one they were looking for.
With Calafiori signed, Arsenal ended their pursuit of a top left-sided defender. If they hadn’t signed the Italian, they should have signed Jorrel Hato.
Why Hato?
Since Jurrien Timber’s departure from Ajax in the summer of 2023, the Ajax defender has stepped in to fill the defensive void in the Dutch side’s backline.
Those who’ve watched him suggest he is the kind of defender who glides through the field with the ball, given he has excellent ball control and a sublime understanding of football, though still young in the game. Given how amazing Timber is becoming, Gooners will be intrigued to hear some describe Hato as Timber Mk 2.0.
Had Arsenal failed to sign Calafiori, they wouldn’t have gone wrong with Hato.
The Athletic reports that Hato will likely leave Ajax next year. “I’m afraid that next summer, we will lose him,” they quote one senior Ajax source on Hato.
With Jakub Kiwior likely to leave next year and Oleksander Zinchenko’s long-term future not certain, Some Gooners could look at the Hato Swoop next year and feel Arsenal should be all over that deal.
However, the Athletic report suggests that Arsenal is unlikely to pursue Hato. Yes, they admire him, but they don’t think it is necessary to close that deal after they landed Calafiori.
Having said that, Arsenal believes they have a solid left-sided central defence (and may not wish to obstruct Myles Lewis Skelly’s path), so they do not need to sign another defender.
However, if Hato is available, it would be foolish not to pursue his deal. The 18-year-old is one of those transfer opportunities too worthy to ignore.
Darren N
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