- Arsenal signed versatile defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax in a £40million deal
- Jorrel Hato has already captained Ajax despite being just 17 years of age still
- Sunderland could be the catalyst for real pressure to engulf Eddie Howe – It’s All Kicking Off
Arsenal are plotting a return to Ajax to reinforce their defence for the long-term, according to reports, with the club monitoring exciting teenager Jorrel Hato.
The Gunners signed Jurrien Timber from the troubled Dutch giants over the summer, only for the versatile defender to suffer a potentially season-ending cruciate ligament injury in his first match.
While still in the Premier League title race, Mikel Arteta’s side have struggled for fitness in defence, particularly at left back.
Regular starter Oleksandr Zinchenko is now injured, while Takehiro Tomiyasu has been utilised on both flanks but is off to the Asia Cup with Japan and Jakub Kiwior has struggled to fill in on the left when called upon.
The Gunners have been monitoring Dutch wonderkid Hato and are thought to be mulling over a summer move, rather than a January transfer according to the Daily Telegraph.
Ajax’s versatile and talented young defender Jorrel Hato is reportedly of interest to Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s side are thin in the ranks in defence after injuries at left back and Takehiro Tomiyasu leaving for the Asia Cup
Hato is considered one of the continent’s most promising defensive talents, and is capable of playing both at left back and in the middle, with his versatility naturally drawing comparisons with that of Timber.
And the player has already admitted that a similar switch to the Premier League is one that he would be keen to make in the future.
‘Unfortunately he was seriously injured in his first Premier League game for Arsenal, but he is still young and has a bright future ahead of him,’ the youngster told Dutch outlet ELF Voetbal in October.
‘In any case, the move to Arsenal was a wonderful one for him. It is also my dream to one day make such a transfer, but I realise that I still have a very long way to go.’
While the Gunners are seemingly in need of reinforcing at the back in the short-term, it is thought that any advancement on their interest in the player is more likely to come in the summer.
Ajax have gone some way to repairing the damage done to their season earlier on in the campaign, which saw fan riots at a clash with rivals Feyenoord, and now sit fifth in the Dutch top-flight.
Hato has played every single minute this season, and despite his youth has also captained the side, so highly is he regarded in Amsterdam.
As such, his current side are also keen to tie him down to a longer deal, which could raise a potential issue for Arsenal in their pursuit.
Regular left back Oleksandr Zinchenko has picked up a calf problem that leaves his fitness a doubt
Hato has laready worn the armband for Ajax – pictured doing so in the Europa League this term
The teenager has also already made his senior debut for the Netherlands against Gibraltar in a 6-0 win.
Should any move materialise, it is thought that it could raise questions over the future of Kiwior, who only joined the club 12 months ago from Spezia in a £17million deal.
Reports suggest that there is in fact interest in the player in the Italian top-flight, should Arsenal decide that his future might lie elsewhere.
The most recent of his four top-flight appearances came in the 2-1 defeat at Fulham, with the Polish defender starting at left back but being hooked at the break.
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