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Arsenal target says he’s modelled his game on Jurrien Timber instead of Virgil van Dijk

Lucas Arnold

Tue 10 September 2024 19:15, UK

Had Arsenal got their way this summer, they might have actually signed Ajax defender Jorrel Hato instead of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna.

Hato is a long-term target at Arsenal, a play🍨er whom they were reportedly interested in signing in the months gone by.

However, Hato wanted to stay at Ajax, the 18-year-old, who has a growing reputation across Europe, spoke ꦦabout his desire to win trophies at the club before he ever moves on.

Hato has often𒆙 worn the captain’s armband at the Dﷺutch club, a testament to the level he’s already reached at this stage.

And ജthere’s a feeling tha🅘t the defender is of the William Saliba echelon, a player who could truly one day be among Europe’s elite.

Arsenal target Jorrel Hato says he prefers Jurrien Timber’s style over Virgil van Dijk

ꦡAhead of a potentially leaving Ajax in the futurꦺe, Hato has been speaking to .

Journalist Suleyman Ozturk once claimed that Hato would cost interested clubs €100m (£84m) in the future, an ind✅icator of his talent.

READ MORE: What Alexander Isak is now demanding in Newcastle contract talks after inte𒐪rest from Arsenal

And as part of his interview, Hato made an interesting comment about both Jurrien Timber and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

Hato said that he was asked to model his game on Van Dij🐎k, but actually looked up to Timber instead.

H🃏e shared: “Coaches told me that I always needed to look up to Virgil van Dijk, but when I played in the under-18s, I always looked up t💝o Jurrien Timber.

“W🥃hen I came into the first team, he was my mentor. I love his playing style, his calmness on the ball.⛎ And he is just a great defender in defending terms.”

Hato can replace three different players at Arsenal

Sign𒀰ing Hato is often still spoken about at Arsenal, a player who may still join in the future despite Calaf𓆏iori’s arrival.

Hato is predominantly a left-footed centre-back who can 🐻also operate out wide in a similar vein to Calafiori.

And in truth, there’s defi💛nitely space for both in the squad moving forward, should Arsenal manage to offload two of three players.

All of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and🌼 Kieran Tierney would surely be deemed surplus to requirements were Hato to come in, who would be a big upgrade on all three.

That being said, Kiwio⛎r had a ‘dis﷽aster’ international break with Poland.