Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Arsenal suffer transfer blow as teenager confirms desire to stay at current club

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 June 2024, 12:12
Arsenal have seemingly suffered a blow in their pursuit of a defensive transfer target this summer.

The Gunners could have another busy summer ahead of them, with incoming and outgoings expected as Mikel Arteta attempts to reshape his squad to challenge once again for the Premier League title next season.

Sporting director Edu recently stated that Arsenal are working through a detailed recruitment process, while co-chairman Josh Kroenke revealed last month that the club would "not stand still" in their attempts to knock Manchester City off their perch at the summit of English football.

Arsenal have subsequently been linked with a plethora of possible transfer targets and are believed to be eyeing up reinforcements in defence, midfield and attack before the 2024-25 campaign gets underway.

The addition of a new left-sided defender is high on their agenda amid uncertainty over the futures of Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Hato commits future to Ajax amid Arsenal interest

One name who has been on Arsenal's radar for some time is Ajax teenager Jorrel Hato, who has excelled for the Eredivisie giants since breaking into the senior team in January 2023.

The 18-year-old has already made 61 first-team appearances in all competitions, including 46 outings last season, and has gained valuable experience in the Dutch top flight and both the Europa League and Conference League.

Recent reports have claimed that Arsenal are one of a number of clubs along with Liverpool and Manchester United who have expressed an interest in signing Hato.

However, three months after extending his Ajax contract until June 2028, Hato has sent a clear message to interested suitors ahead of this summer's transfer window.

Speaking to AjaxLife, as quoted by the Evening Standard, the young defender said: "I haven't finished learning here yet, and I want to win prizes with Ajax. That was my dream when I came here."

What next for Arsenal in summer transfer window?

While Hato's decision to stay at Ajax comes as a blow to Arsenal, who signed Jurrien Timber from the Dutch giants last year, it is thought that the Gunners are currently prioritising the addition of a new centre-forward this summer.

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak is believed to be one of Arsenal's top targets, but he has allegedly opened talks with the Magpies over a contract extension.

The North Londoners have also been linked with Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, but they have reportedly ended their interest in Napoli's £110m-rated striker Victor Osimhen.

Arteta's side could also look to bolster their midfield options this summer, with Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes and Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz said to be two names high on their list of targets.

Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta injury was so severe his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Armenia host neighbours Georgia in Yerevan on Thursday evening, as the two nations fight for the right to play in league B of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are ready to consider offers for striker Darwin Nunez, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Austria host Serbia on Thursday evening, looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged playoff for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, European heavyweights Italy and Germany will convene at San Siro on Thursday, for the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Troy Deeney has reiterated his belief that Mohamed Salah is 'not world class' after his Wembley woes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle teammate. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will clash on Thursday as leaders Japan face Bahrain. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Danny Drinkwater was once given just an hour to leave Chelsea and led to a bust-up with the manager. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have no hope of clawing back their 12-point Premier League deficit to Liverpool despite the Reds' recent problems, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reportedly among the clubs who have discovered the asking price of RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are one of three Premier League clubs who could reportedly pip rivals Manchester United and Chelsea to the signing of Sporting Lisbon's in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil and Colombia go head-to-head in the 38th instalment of this international fixture in Brasilia on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk There will be no return to the Brazil fold for Neymar in their clash with Colombia on Thursday night, as he has pulled out of the upcoming squad with injury. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona have all reportedly suffered a major blow in their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak ahead of the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Thomas Tuchel not only raised eyebrows with his selections in his first England squad - but also with his omissions.