United Plotting Another Raid On Ajax As They Consider Hijacking Arsenal’s Move For Dutch Wonderkid

Manchester United are interested in Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, according to HITC Football.

The Red Devils are in the market for both a centre-half and a left-back. With the 18-year-old capable of providing cover in both positions, he could be an ideal target.

Hato has recently won the Marco van Basten Award, which is given to Ajax’s most talented young player, and he is certainly worthy of the accolade.


Despite being so young, the Dutchman has made 46 appearances this season, having also captained his team on three separate occasions.

Arsenal are currently favourites to buy Hato

Despite United having scouted the teenager, though, they may have their work cut out if they want to secure his services this summer.

HITC claim that Arsenal are the team that are in “pole position” to sign Hato. They have been putting in the groundwork to persuade the player into making the move to the Emirates.

However, it should be pointed out that the defender only signed a new contract with Ajax a couple of months ago, and no release clause was included. Considering United do have good relations with the Eredivisie side, having signed the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Antony in recent seasons, it could give the Red Devils an advantage in negotiations.

United are looking at a number of centre-backs

Hato is by no means the only target that Erik ten Hag’s side have been assessing to strengthen the centre of defence. The likes of Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Juventus’s Gleison Bremer and Lille’s Leny Yoro have also been linked.

A lot could depend on the asking price of these players. Due to the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, United will have to be careful with their spending during the next transfer window. Even with INEOS involved, the club reportedly can’t go above £100m in terms of net spend.

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David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.