Liverpool now eyeing “probably the greatest younger skills in soccer”

Arne Slot would have been delighted when he led Liverpool to the Premier League title final season regardless of FSG’s reluctance to wield their purse after Jurgen Klopp packed up and left.

Who can say the Dutch coach wants a variety of signings? He bagged gold with none actual funding final 12 months. Now, although, the tactical mastermind is being handsomely rewarded.

A variety of impactful signings have already been made, with Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz strengthening the frontline. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have refreshed the full-back ranks. Giorgi Mamardashvili joins Alisson Becker between the sticks.

Liverpool’s subsequent switch goal

Attacking additions often draw the largest acclaim. However Liverpool additionally want a centre-back, and this grew to become clear after the vested curiosity in Dean Huijsen was made identified.

However Huijsen has signed for Actual Madrid in a £50m deal, becoming a member of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Thus, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has turned his consideration to Marc Guehi, although the Crystal Palace defender can be on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar, with the Londoners at present weighing up an official bid.

If Liverpool do not signal the Three Lions star, it appears they’ve recognized Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato as the person to finish Slot’s backline, with switch insider Ben Jacobs confirming {the teenager} is on the shortlist.

Hato can be in Chelsea’s sights, and it’s the Blues who lead the race at this stage. Nevertheless, Liverpool may steal forward ought to they mount a concerted effort, with a shrewd £40m price ticket floating about.

Why Liverpool ought to signal Jorrel Hato

With Ibrahima Konate‘s future unsure, Actual Madrid lurking and the Frenchman only one 12 months away from free company, it appears like bringing in a centre-back is a matter of urgency this summer season.

Particularly as Jarell Quansah left for Bayer Leverkusen in a £35m bundle final month.

Hato would possibly solely be 19, however he is already emerged as one in every of Ajax’s main gamers, taking part in 111 senior matches for the Dutch giants and incomes six caps for the Netherlands nationwide crew.

His fast-track rise to stardom – Hato has been hailed as “probably the greatest younger skills in soccer” by U23 scout Antonio Mango – and flexibility counsel he might be Liverpool’s subsequent model of Cody Gakpo, who additionally joined the Anfield aspect immediately from the Dutch Eredivisie.

Gakpo, 25, signed for Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven for £35m in January 2023, and he has since grow to be one of many staples of a trophy-winning Reds aspect, with pundit Peter Crouch even claiming he had “gone up a stage” in Slot’s system final season.

Final season, he scored 18 targets and equipped seven assists for the Premier League champions, maturing in a set position coming off the attacking left flank.

Hato may emulate his countryman, together with his dynamic positional qualities certain to see Slot shuffle him about earlier than he grows into his pores and skin in England and establishes himself as one of many Premier League’s main centre-halves.

The defensive phenom may not have performed in his pure central position all that a lot all through the 2024/25 season, however he nonetheless completed ranked among the many prime 1% of positional friends for go completion and the highest 12% for aerial duels received per 90, as per FBref, thus illustrating his properties which are nicely suited to the place.

Although Hato is an unrefined gem, he’s a jewel all the identical. And Slot has demonstrated throughout the previous 12 months his capability to carry his countrymen – Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch – up and up into the higher sphere of European stars.

With Hato, he can repeat the trick, coaxing the participant right into a starring position over the subsequent few years.

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