Arsenal have been left annoyed after Chelsea secured the signing of Ajax star Jorrel Hato. He is a player the Gunners had kept tabs on for quite some time.
Arsenal miss out on Ajax target
Arsenal’s interest in Jorrel Hato wasn’t new. The club had been quietly following his rise at Ajax for months. They saw him as a player with big potential.
However, with other priorities during the summer window, the North London side didn’t make an official move in time. Chelsea swooped in and completed the deal, much to the frustration of the Gunners‘ camp. Inside the Emirates, there’s a strong belief that Hato could be a future star. So, missing out on him has not gone down well at Arsenal, reports TBR Football.
Although, Arsenal currently have good depth in defence. But, Hato was viewed as someone who could grow into a top-level player. The club might not have had a direct need at the time. But, the long-term value of signing a player like him was on Mikel Arteta’s mind.
Chelsea add smart depth for European push
Hato’s addition to Chelsea is another reflection of their strategy towards signing young players. The Dutchman is comfortable at playing at left-back or centre-back. He will struggle for game-time, with Marc Cucurella already being part of the squad. However, with Blues returning to UCL, the demands of the season is often greater.
The defender promises to add more to Chelsea’s squad depth. He may even be pushing for a place in and around central defence. That is especially with the difficulties of Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile of late. Enzo Maresca views Hato as a player who will be playing regularly for the club.
The move for Jorrel Hato suggests the Blues intend to balance youth with experience int their squad. For Chelsea, it is another pathway to the future.
As featured on Chelseanews.comAs featured on GoonerNews.com
