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Jorrel Hato is tearing it up for Ajax (Image: Getty)
Arsenal have been tipped to sign Ajax youngster Jorrel Hato after forking out £38.5million for Jurrien Timber over the summer. Despite being just 17 years of age, Hato has already established himself as a regular starter for the Dutch giants, who have struggled so far this season, and was recently called up to the Netherlands national team to make his senior debut.
Multiple top European clubs are monitoring his progress but according to Voetbal International reporter Suleyman Ozturk, Arsenal and Manchester City are the favourites to snap him up.
It won't be a cheap transfer to pull off though. Ozturk anticipates that Ajax will demand a fee of around £86.2m (100m euros) for the versatile defender, who like Timber can play both as a left-back and centre-half.
Speaking to Soccer News Netherlands, Ozturk said: “If he continues to develop like this, Arsenal and Manchester City will also look. It represents a value of one hundred million euros. Maybe he will become the first player that Ajax sells for more than 100 million.
Arsenal signed Jurrien Timber from Ajax over the summer (Image: Getty)
“Hato won't turn eighteen until March and has already worn the captain's armband. He has also already made his national team debut... The calm he maintains during his goal shows that he comes from a certain education.
“He reminds me a bit of Jurrien Timber when he has the ball. The ease with which he plays football and he is not too tall: 182 centimetres. He is not a colossus of a defender, but based on his technique he knows how to move effortlessly.
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Hato made his senior debut for the Netherlands national team earlier this year at 17 years old (Image: Getty)
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“What struck me were the hand gestures he made. Like: 'guys, give me the ball, it'll be fine.' His speed of action is high and he passes so cleanly. He makes almost no mistakes when in possession of the ball.”
Hato has been one of the few bright sparks in what has been a disastrous campaign for John van 't Schip's side so far. Ajax find themselves in eighth place in the Eredivisie heading into matchday 13 while they also sit rock bottom of their Europa League group behind Brighton, Marseille and AEK Athens.
The teenage sensation has played in all 12 of Ajax's league games this season and has shown maturity beyond his years when called upon. Losing Hato would prove to be a disastrous move for Ajax especially after selling so many of their key players recently.