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Tottenham interested in signing ‘highly-rated’ Ajax wonderkid; club view him as an upgrade for next season

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Aaryan Choksi | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 12:15 PM ET

Ajax defender Jorrel Hato has a decision to make in the summer amid Tottenham links

Tottenham Hotspur need to start strong next season if they want to have any chance of competing for a Champions League place via the Premier League. For that, the Lilywhites need to bring in reinforcements in the summer as they look to address the problems on the pitch. The dismal domestic campaign was enough to show that the North London club need to rectify a lot of wrongs in the summer.

One of the major reasons why Spurs finished just a place above the relegation zone was the injury crisis that the club endured. Most of the key defenders were out for several weeks, and that forced Ange Postecoglou to use inexperienced players in unfamiliar positions. That clearly impacted the performances and the results on the pitch, which ultimately costed Big Ange his job at N17.

Key defenders like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were forced to sit on the sidelines midway through the season due to long-term injuries. Backup defender Radu Dragusin also suffered an ACL injury earlier this year, and the Romania international is set to be out of action for a few more months now.

Tottenham are eyeing a deal for Ajax talent Jorrel Hato in the summer

Tottenham cannot afford to be complacent heading into the transfer market as they look to build on the Europa League success next season. The Lilywhites need to sign defensive reinforcements after the injury crisis that the club endured last season. With Cristian Romero facing an uncertain future at the club and Radu Dragusin sidelined due to an injury, Daniel Levy must aim to bring in a quality defender for next season.

As per Ben Jacobs (via Last Word On Spurs), Spurs are interested in signing Jorrel Hato from Ajax in the summer. The Lilywhites view the talented centre-back as ‘one for the future’ and want to bring him to N17 so that he can maximise his talents in the Premier League. The journalist also reports that Tottenham view the 19-year-old as Radu Dragusin’s replacement, as the Romania international has suffered a long-term injury.

Dragusin is also linked with a move to AC Milan in the summer after an underwhelming stint at N17 so far. The 23-year-old has just not got going and Spurs are worried that the centre-back might not reach his true potential after suffering an ACL injury midway through last season.

However, Tottenham’s interest in Jorrel Hato just proves that the North London club are still aiming to bring in young talents in the summer. The defender would fit in well at N17 under Thomas Frank. He is comfortable on the ball and can easily play out from the back. The 19-year-old can also operate as a left-back when needed, showcasing his versatility by playing in different positions.

Hato thrives when a team dominates possession. His technical play is second to none, and he prefers competing in physical duels to win possession back for his team. The Dutchman also has good positional awareness, which is key factor for what Thomas Frank wants from his defenders.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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