Even if Virgil van Dijk signs a new contract with Liverpool this summer, the Reds will need to have one eye on a long-term replacement for him. Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is one player to watch out for— and Ajax’s Jorrel Hato might be another.
A regular in the Netherlands’ top flight at the age of just 19, Hato can play left-back or center-back. He has already played five times at senior level for his country — making his debut by replacing Van Dijk against Gibraltar — and is also being watched by other big clubs around Europe including Real Madrid.
Hato was recently spotted at Anfield, though this was unrelated to any potential transfer — he was attending as a guest of his friend Ryan Gravenberch. But he has been scouted several times by Liverpool, according to the Daily Mail.
“I read it all, but I also know that not everything was right. For my development, it’s best that I stay at Ajax now,” the youngster told De Telegraaf in January, hinting that he has no plans to move elsewhere just yet.
“I was invited [to Anfield] by Ryan Gravenberch but I didn’t speak to a director there. Liverpool played well and the atmosphere in the stadium was good, but there is no more to say.”
Liverpool often signs players who are slightly more experienced than Hato so there is a larger sample size of data to work with about their performance level. But Hato has already played 100 senior games.
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is a big fan too. “It’s crazy how young he is, but obviously how mature he looks when he’s on the pitch and also off the pitch,” he said earlier this year.
“He’s a very mature person, works hard, fantastic player. And yeah, he has a bright future ahead of him, I’m sure. I think he just needs to continue to do what he’s been doing.
“Obviously, it’s been working for him. I’ll try to help him and also the players if they ask for a little bit of advice off the field. If I can help them, I’m sure I’ll try and do that, of course.”
Liverpool.com says: Signing a young defender with high potential should be a priority for Liverpool this summer. Signing a left-back (Milos Kerkez, perhaps) should be a top priority but adding another center-back might become something that is important too. If Van Dijk can be tied down to an extension and a long-term successor can be brought in, that would be the ideal mix.
