Looking ahead to the 2025/2026 season, Manchester City’s defence looks like their weakest link.
Manchester City do not have a world-class successor to now-Burnley right-back Kyle Walker while centre-backs like Manuel Akanji have been out of form for a while as well and the same can be said for Ruben Dias.
John Stones and Nathan Ake remain injury-prone while Josko Gvardiol has only played a few games at centre-half for Pep Guardiola while Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis are still very inexperienced, albeit gifted prospects.
Liverpool and Arsenal, on the other hand have arguably two of the best centre-back duos in the Premier League in Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk as well as William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes respectively.
While Pep Guardiola aims to win the Premier League, that might be too tall a mountain for the Sky Blues to climb up next season purely due to the state of their backline.
Man City should try to sign Liverpool target Jorrel Hato
However, a player who could help elevate this Manchester City side is Jorrel Hato, a potential superstar of a centre-back who also has plenty of experience playing as a left-back as well.
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Journalist Duncan Castles recently claimed on The Transfer Podcast that Liverpool have held direct talks to sign Hato, saying: “What I can tell you is that there have been direct conversations between Liverpool and Hato around joining the Premier League champions this season and those conversations have taken place with the knowledge of Ajax.”
Jorrel Hato and James McAtee in action during England vs Netherlands U-21's match
Photo by Jeroen van den Berg/Soccrates/Getty Images
With Ake constantly suffering injuries and having turned 30 in February, Manchester City should swoop in for Hato, who could instantly cover for him as much like his countryman, the youngster too is proficient at defending in wide areas.
The 19-year-old is also left-footed and he has made 70 appearances as a left-back, making a name for himself for being rapid, excellent at carrying the ball, and technically sound as well.
While Pep Guardiola rates Gvardiol at centre-back, Hato could also help give the Croatian a breather by slotting into Manchester City’s left-sided centre-half role as well, playing 88 games in the position.
JORREL HATO’S VERSATILITY
CENTRE-BACK 88
LEFT-BACK 70
LEFT MIDFIELD 1
CENTRAL MIDFIELD 1
Whether the Dutchman would potentially fancy being a squad player remains to be seen.
However, in Hato, Manchester City would be signing a quality young prospect who would add depth, tactical flexibility, athleticism and speed to a backline that sets up in a high line.
Virgil van Dijk’s stance on Jorrel Hato
Furthermore, Ajax still hold the cards when it comes to deciding the jewel in their crown’s future.
According to Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele, Virgil van Dijk is a huge admirer of the teenager, as he wrote: “Mail Sport first trailed their interest in Milos Kerkez way back in November and they remain in the race for Bournemouth’s Hungary left back. Jorrel Hato at Ajax has also been mooted. But talk about him has cooled somewhat recently, though Virgil van Dijk is said to be a big fan.”
Considering a defender of Van Dijk’s ilk rates Hato highly should be a message to Manchester City to explore a deal for the highly-rated centre-back at the very least.