With query marks over Andy Robertson‘s long-term position underneath Arne Slot, Liverpool might flip their focus again to the Netherlands and goal Ajax’s Jorrel Hato.
All good issues come to an finish finally. Or they no less than have to be deliberate for.
When you think about how essential he has been to the membership’s success over the previous seven-plus years, it in all probability isn’t too hyperbolic to say that the 2017 signing of Andy Robertson for round £8 million from Hull Metropolis – offset by Kevin Stewart going to different means for the same price – is without doubt one of the greatest acquisitions in Liverpool’s historical past.
But there may be certainly a rising understanding behind the scenes that the succession course of for the membership’s sensible left-back now must be bumped up the agenda.
The writing isn’t but on the wall for a participant who nonetheless solely turns 31 this season however the pens are no less than being readied. Particularly if, primarily based on how he continues for use primarily as a rotation choice, Kostas Tsimikas will not be seen because the inheritor to Robertson’s left-back throne.
On the not-so-small record of squad to-dos, there are some extra urgent contractual conditions to resolve with Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk.
Nonetheless, if the membership is de facto dedicated to investing in Arne Slot and placing the squad in the perfect place potential for the inevitable second when the likes of Robertson exit the stage (or no less than tackle a extra minor position within the efficiency) then switch proactivity is vital.
Step ahead vastly gifted 18-year-old Dutch defender Jorrel Hato.
Current rumours have instructed that the Ajax academy graduate is being lined up because the alternative for Van Dijk, but he arguably isn’t the individual Hato ought to be changing in the long run.
A participant resembling Fulham’s Antonee Robinson would even be a superb Robertson alternative however if you happen to’re on the lookout for somebody with the vary of technical, tactical, bodily and psychological attributes most suited to Slot, then Hato matches the invoice.
A expertise that couldn’t be ignored
Final summer season, Ajax needed to steadiness the books and successfully had each participant accessible on the market bar one, who was very a lot off limits, and that was Hato.
After making his debut months earlier than his seventeenth birthday within the 2022/23 season – together with his Eredivisie bow coming underneath now-Liverpool assistant coach John Heitinga – he seamlessly made the often-challenging leap for a teen from unproven expertise to established first-teamer.
A bridge symbolically connects the Ajax academy to the 55,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Enviornment however Hato barely ever wanted it.
In two-and-a-half seasons, the person truly born in Rotterdam and a fan of Ajax’s historic rivals Feyenoord has already amassed nearly 100 appearances, the bulk from the beginning.
He’s now one of many first names on the teamsheet for spectacular new Italian coach Francesco Farioli, taking part in as a left-back.
As is usually the case with particular skills, such is the standard of Hato that it may be straightforward to overlook simply how inexperienced he’s relative to the accountability being positioned on his shoulders.
It was maybe his early readiness for first-team motion that made it much less painful for Ajax to say goodbye to a different former graduate from their famed academy, when Jurrien Timber was offered to Arsenal in 2023. In reality, Hato has cited Timber as his first-team mentor.
? March twenty eighth ’23: Captain Oranje U17 ? November twenty first ’23: Debut for @OnsOranje
Comfortable ???? birthday to you, Jorrel Hato! ??#NothingLikeOranje pic.twitter.com/yocYVgK0MG
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) March 7, 2024
Sustained worldwide recognition has duly adopted within the UEFA Nations League, with Hato beforehand turning into the second-youngest participant to play for his nation since 1931 when he made his debut in a European Championship qualifier.
With the left aspect of defence an space during which the Oranje has an array of choices, it shouldn’t be held towards Hato if he requires a pair extra campaigns to turn out to be established with Ronald Koeman.
Nonetheless, he’ll nearly definitely be within the squad for the 2026 World Cup, primarily based on his present trajectory of growth.
Typically gamers simply look born for the massive stage and Hato is one among them.
Technical and bodily
If followers haven’t observed but, ball retention is an important a part of an Arne Slot aspect.
And it gained’t shock you to study that Hato is extremely competent on the ball and technically sensible, with the preternatural calmness that defines younger Ajax defenders.
Final season within the Eredivisie he made the third-most passes and produced the perfect move completion price. That latter determine is available in at 91 % over the previous 12 months while taking part in as a full-back who additionally occurs to be amongst the best percentile for tried passes.
Moreover, he’s within the highest within the league for ball carries, being equally harmful with well-timed overlapping and underlapping runs.
There’s a actual bravery in Hato’s decision-making on the ball, in his runs and in his defensive duties.
And while some defenders could have some signature dishes in relation to their vary of passing, Hato can choose from the total menu, being equally snug taking part in in tight areas or delivering lengthy, penetrating through-balls.
When watching Robertson through the years, it has been the relentless onerous work and operating that has gone down so effectively with the Anfield devoted simply as a lot because the brilliance on the ball, the whipped crosses and the aggressive tackles.
Though he’s nonetheless maturing bodily, Hato has already developed the form of bodily traits wanted in top-level Premier League defenders.
He has real velocity, is round six-foot tall and is tenacious in his tackling. Up to now 12 months he’s once more one of many highest ranked for aerial duels gained per 90 minutes.
Final marketing campaign he performed each league recreation bar the final when he was rested, exhibiting his bodily sturdiness.
Positionally versatile
* Jorrel Hato positions performed and full-back knowledge (Transfermarkt / FBref)
An enormous takeaway from Slot’s tenure up to now has been how he is ready to use gamers successfully in several positions, generally in the course of the matches themselves.
That is an space during which Hato receives one other big tick and one of many huge causes Liverpool ought to be transferring for him. He’s very a lot the archetypal fashionable defender when it comes to the other ways during which he can be utilized.
On account of the place he initially began taking part in for Ajax, there’s a false impression that his sole place is as a left-sided centre-back, however in his profession he has in actual fact now performed extra video games as a left-back having been transformed absolutely to the position by Fariolli.
Every of his full 90 minutes for the Netherlands have additionally come there.
Akin to Riccardo Calafiori at Arsenal, Hato affords the twin choices for a coach of being each a extremely progressive full-back (with three targets and 5 assists in 28 video games already this season) and a kind of surprisingly uncommon finds in soccer – a naturally left-footed defender.
If Slot needed to provide Robertson a run of video games but additionally handle the sport time of Van Dijk, Hato would simply match into the captain’s centre-half place.
If wanted, he can be utterly snug on the left of a defensive three and can be greater than competent as a left-back tasked with stepping inside into the centre to help the sitting midfielder and provides extra freedom to the likes of Alexander-Arnold or, if the No. 66 departs, Conor Bradley on the other flank.
A pure chief
What has been particularly spectacular with Hato to this point is not only how rapidly he has turn out to be established at Ajax however the surroundings during which he has executed so.
By ending fifth, the 2023/24 Eredivisie marketing campaign was the membership’s worst in nearly 1 / 4 of a century; encompassing managerial and sporting director sackings, fan riots at matches, excessive participant turnover and an combination 10-0 loss to Slot’s Feyenoord.
In addition they did not qualify from their Europa League group.
But amongst the insanity Hato stepped as much as the plate, exhibiting the qualities of character that make him a doubtlessly nice chief on and off pitch.
He has already captained Ajax thrice, turning into their youngest-ever captain at 17 years and eight months. For many of his profession coming via the youth ranks, Hato has been the person with the armband. The one setting the instance.
With a transitional interval maybe not far across the nook, Liverpool might do with pure leaders resembling Hato, somebody who might effectively observe within the footsteps of Van Dijk by captaining his nation.
Financially prudent
Lastly, this could be a transfer that makes loads of sense financially.
At current, Hato is valued at about €30 million, in keeping with Transfermarkt. That determine will nearly definitely rise rapidly not solely due to Hato’s continued enchancment and growing profile, however the truth that a number of prime European golf equipment are already admiringly wanting his means.
Though they’ve improved this season after their well-profiled droop, Ajax can’t assure the income of Champions League soccer that’s so important for Eredivisie golf equipment and can know that it’ll quickly be time to money of their chips and doubtlessly instigate a bidding struggle.
In a monetary period the place the stakes positioned on smart signings have by no means been larger, transferring early this January, or getting every part prepared for a swift transfer subsequent summer season, can be a particularly smart transfer for a participant whose profile, high quality and subsequent value is just going to develop within the years to return.
For Liverpool followers studying this and looking out on the Premier League success price of signings from the Netherlands, there’ll possible be some reservations about investing in a younger Eredivisie expertise like Hato.
Nonetheless, each every now and then a participant comes alongside who’s a very generational expertise and easily can’t be ignored.
Over seven years in the past Liverpool made an clever and proactive funding in a gifted younger left-back who went on to do unbelievable issues.
Now might be the second to take action as soon as once more.
