Ex-Manchester United coach suggests ‘versatile’ Chelsea star must leave club and seal Old Trafford transfer
Ex-Manchester United coach suggests ‘versatile’ Chelsea star must leave club and seal Old Trafford transfer
Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has urged his former side to sign Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato amid the defender’s reduced game time at the west London club.
Hato joined Chelsea from Ajax Amsterdam for a reported £37 million in a seven-year deal last summer. However, the 19-year-old has struggled to secure regular game time at his current club. He has made 21 appearances for the Blues so far and has mostly been an unused substitute.
Speaking to BetGoat, Meulensteen described Hato’s move to Chelsea as 'disappointing,' noting that he was a key player at Ajax. He claimed the limited game time at Stamford Bridge is detrimental to Hato’s career and suggested that the Dutchman could be looking for a challenge elsewhere.
“It is a disappointing move for Jorrel Hato because he was absolutely outstanding for Ajax at the time,” Meulensteen said. “He was very, very young and was the captain, which says a lot about the trust the manager put in him in terms of his personality and his leadership qualities. Then a club like Chelsea comes in because they want to pick up all the best players here, there, and everywhere. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they fit in with the way the team wants to play. He’s been one of the guys who hasn’t really settled.
“Yes, he can get a big paycheck and a lot of money in the bank, but young players should be playing. Nobody can guarantee success for players wherever they go, but you want to get a sense of the manager’s plan and what he has planned for you. He is also versatile, he can play left-back, centre-back, or as a number six. He is technically very, very good.
“It doesn’t help his career, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he is looking for a loan move or another challenge elsewhere. If I were any Premier League team, including Manchester United, and he were available or became available, I would definitely be looking at him because he is still very young, and there is a lot of potential to unlock.”
Manchester United eyeing move for Chelsea star – Reports
Manchester United are reportedly monitoring the situation of Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson and are ready to pounce if the Blues decide to sell the striker to a Premier League rival.
Currently at Bayern Munich, Jackson is set to return to Stamford Bridge this summer when his loan spell expires. He joined the Bavarians last summer for a record loan fee and with a £70 million obligation to buy. However, the feeling is that Bayern are unlikely to meet the clauses to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United, along with some other Premier League clubs are ‘extremely attentive’ to Jackson’s situation and would not hesitate to acquire his services if the Blues offer to sell him.
The Senegalese forward has scored five goals in 22 appearances at Bayern and has found starts hard to come by due to Harry Kane’s remarkable form.