Manchester United could be shopping in familiar vendors this summer to replace Luke Shaw and one linked option would be perfect.
This summer it’s no secret Manchester United are gearing up for lots of change. This change ranges from the very top down, with INEOS‘ revamp of the footballing structure almost done, attention will soon turn to the playing staff.
There are thought to be four positions United are primarily looking to strengthen however there are links to practically every position.
One position being left-back which has been an especially problematic position for Erik ten Hag this season. But now it seems United have eyes locked onto Ajax’s next big thing Jorrel Hato to replace Luke Shaw.
Here’s why he’d be perfect…
Manchester United want Jorrel Hato this summer, he’d be perfect
Hato, at just 18 is already impressing in the Eredivisie which will come as no surprise for Ten Hag, who will no doubt have been aware of him at Ajax.
It has been reported by HITC’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey that United have entered the race to sign Hato, who was Ajax’s talent of the year winning the Marco van Basten Award for the 2023-24 season.
Already a fully-fledged Dutch international, Hato is the kind of young talent that Ineos has been expected to be keen on bringing to Old Trafford this summer in an attempt to overhaul a stagnant defence.
Hato is a central defender by trade and has played there in his young career, but is equally adept on the left, especially in an inverted role. At 5’11, it’s unlikely he’s being viewed as a centre-back in the Premier League anyway.
At United, this is likely the role he’d play and seems to be an ideal fit for the role Diogo Dalot has been asked to do recently of inverting into midfield from left-back.
We know Hato can do this, as his impressive on-ball stats indicate with an average pass completion percentage of 92.5% along with completing 73 passes per game, as per FotMob.
His young age is also misleading as he’s a player absolutely ready to be starting every game and actually is the U20 player with the second most minutes this season with 4,758 as per CIES, which is second only to Joao Neves of Benfica – another United target.
Should Ten Hag be concerned over signing another Ajax player?
In his two summers at United already, Ten Hag has signed four former Ajax players with all having their struggles despite Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana being considered successes.
This will without a doubt weigh heavy on the mind of Ten Hag if Hato is being targeted this summer, given singing Eredivisie and Ajax players have been a stick which he has been beaten with.
However, to ignore the chance to sign one of the hottest prospects in Europe, who’d be perfect for a priority position because Antony failed, would be ridiculous.
He’ll be expensive, but if it works, it would lock the position down for a decade.