Chelsea hold 'fresh talks' with £60m player tipped to 'struggle' at top level

Chelsea are now said to be pushing for a deal to sign a defender as they look to continue what has already been a busy summer. Enzo Maresca is hoping to see his men become Premier League title contenders, and they have gone the right way about it this summer.

The Blues won the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, a title win that will surely breed belief, especially on the back of the Conference League win, and while there will now be some much-needed holiday time, Chelsea will go into the new season with momentum and belief aplenty.

Maresca has also been handed plenty of new signings, with Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens already snapped up, while more new signings will be arriving before the start of the new season.

Chelsea are now said to be concentrating on snapping up a new centre-back, and Ajax star Jorrel Hato is now said to be a target, with the Dutchman able to play across the back line. According to talkSPORT, Chelsea have now held fresh talks over the signing of the 19-year-old, who has already racked up an impressive 75 league appearances at senior level already.

Hato will reportedly cost around £60million this summer, but Chelsea know they will have to pay a significant amount of a centre-back who is capable of competing for a starting spot.

What Hato has said

Asked about his mindset heading into the summer, Hato told Ajax’s websit in June: “The smartest thing is to look at it pre-season, that’s what I do. Of course you want to achieve things in the end: the Champions League, a World Cup and a European Championship, I still have plenty of time. I don’t think I absolutely have to win the Champions League in two years.

“In the Dutch league, you have to show how good you are against the big clubs. Ultimately, I have to continue to develop the things I am already good at, so that it becomes top. How do I describe my time at Ajax? Ajax is home for me. I just feel at home here.”

Pundit verdict

Perhaps concerningly for Chelsea, former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen doubted Hato’s immediate potential at the top level when addressing the defender’s links with United earlier in the summer. He said: “Jorrel Hato is a fantastic talent, but he plays in an Ajax team which dominates possession in most of their games and you don’t get tested physically like you do in the Premier League.

“Look at Tyrell Malacia, he was described the same way but the environment is like nothing they would have experienced before. Antony is another example, he is a great talent but it was too big of a jump. Tijjani Reijnders has made the right steps, five years ago he was at RKC Waalwijk playing with my son and he wasn’t even a regular.

“Since then he went to AZ, he scored against West Ham in the Europa League, AC Milan picked him up, he improved a lot and now he is at Manchester City. Will he be a big asset to City? Yes. He brings energy and never stops running. Would Hato be a big asset to United right now? I think he would struggle.”

Your next Chelsea read, £25m Chelsea sale alongside Madueke as 'gentleman's agreement' met