With Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk nearing the age of 33, Liverpool is looking at center backs to lead the back line along with Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah.
With rumors of interest in Chelsea defender Levi Colwill last summer, and other defenders who are gaining recognition in Europe such as Sporting defender Goncalo Inácio as candidates, the top two Premier League clubs are eyeing the next generation of Dutch center backs with enthusiasm.
According to Soccernews, Arsenal and Liverpool could be forced to pay as much as 100 million euros to acquire the floundering Dutch powerhouse, Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.
Hato, who made his top debut in January 2023 after coming through the Ajax academy, is a center back in his own right but can also play as a left back. He was in the starting lineup in the second half of last season and has played in every game so far this season, becoming an indispensable player for Ajax.
Despite his overwhelming youth at just 18 years of age, the left-footed center back has also worn the captain’s mark for Ajax in both the Eredivisie and Europa League.
The Rotterdam-born defender continues to impress with his club and has established himself as one of the top young defenders in Europe.
It is therefore no surprise that major Premier League clubs are eyeing the teenager. Arsenal and Liverpool are among the major English clubs that have been mentioned as potential targets.
Will the center back, who could be the future of the Dutch national team, leave the club where he has been a top performer for almost a year and a half and step up to a new club in the summer transfer window?