Rumour Mongering: Hato Hunt Heating Up
The Reds will reportedly face competition from Arsenal for the young Ajax man.
Liverpool are six points from a league title with six games to go, and even the least confident Reds fans must begin to admit to themselves that number 20 is in the bag, despite the less than impressive performances that have littered the latter stages of the club’s campaign.
As such, thoughts will naturally begin drifting towards two things: the celebrations, and what happens after those, as the summer begins and next season’s squad is to be constructed. Despite the league title, most corners will agree that there is plenty of work to be done if the Merseysiders are going to retain the trophy next year, and as contract renewals are announced — or not — the image begins to come into relief.
Incoming transfers, then, are the order of the day, and perhaps the most unanimously agreed upon position of need is left-back. Andy Robertson has been one of the best left-sided fullbacks in Europe for almost a decade now, and Kostas Tsimikas has been perhaps the very best deputy, but both things appear to no longer be the case, and new blood is needed.
Milos Kerkez has generally been fronted as the most likely target, and the Hungarian possesses the athleticism, the crossing ability, and the copious grinta that is required of a two-way fullback in the modern game. He is, however, very much a player in the same model as Robertson and Tsimikas, and should Arne Slot be interested in altering the way Liverpool’s fullbacks play, a different profile might be on the docket.
Like previous Liverpool target Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato can — and does — feature both as a left-back and a centre-back in back fours and threes alike, and possesses the versatility to perform a considerable number of tasks depending on both team composition and game state. A prolific and proficient tackler, the 19-year old is rarely beaten on the dribble, and while he doesn’t possess the final third passing or swervy crosses of more purely attack-minded fullbacks, for a manager who values balance, Hato would provide the sort of cover in rest defence that allow more enterprising team mates the freedom to play and press with abandon.
£40m is the reported price tag — hardly outrageous in the current market — and the Reds will face competition from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and of course Arsenal, who have only spent €270m on the eight centre-backs currently on their books.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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