Jorrel Hato’s potential transfer to Chelsea appears to be reaching its final stages, as the young defender was notably absent from Ajax’s squad for the Como Cup clash against Celtic on Thursday evening. The 19-year-old, who had accompanied the Dutch side to Italy for pre-season engagements against Ajax and Celtic, finds himself at the centre of a burgeoning transfer saga.
Hato’s exclusion from the Como Cup opener comes in the wake of advanced negotiations between Chelsea and Ajax regarding the player’s move to Stamford Bridge. Reports suggest the Eredivisie club are willing to part ways with their promising talent for a fee in the region of £45 million.
The versatile defender, adept at both centre-back and left-back, had previously caught the attention of Premier League titans Liverpool earlier this year. Since joining Ajax from Sparta Rotterdam in 2018, Hato has progressed through the ranks, eventually making his professional debut in a KNVB Cup fixture against Den Bosch some four-and-a-half years later.
As the transfer window unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea can secure the services of the highly-rated Dutchman to bolster their defensive options.
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