Chelsea will be hoping they can convince a number of their transfer targets to join them this summer with the promise of Champions League football for next season.
The Blues are 90 minutes away from returning to matches against Europe’s elite, with Enzo Maresca already planning to get the better of Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season.
A number of Chelsea’s top targets are also wanted by a number of top sides. The Blues want Benjamin Sesko and Liam Delap, however face competition from clubs who will likely be in the Champions League next season.
As well as a striker, a defender is going to be high on the club’s shortlist when it comes to summer signings. The future of the likes of Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi is unclear after their time away on loan.
Chelsea have ‘good chance’ at beating Arsenal to top signing
One player they have been linked with signing is Ajax youngster Jorrel Hato. Chelsea have shifted their priority from Dean Huijsen after it has become clear he will be joining Real Madrid at the end of the season.
Transfer insider Graeme Bailey has told The Chelsea Chronicle that the Blues are up against Arsenal in a battle for the deal, although believes they have a good chance of completing the signing.
He said: “I think someone like Hato would be an immensely good signing for Chelsea. I do get a feeling about him, but you’ll do well to beat Arsenal to him, but I think someone like him as a hybrid who’s more of a fullback in the centre. I know he can play centre half, but he’s played so much time of his time as a left back now.
“And obviously, as we know in the three, Cucurella can play everywhere but you haven’t really got a natural backup to Cucurella at the minute. So, I think Hato is a fascinating one. I’d keep an eye on him. I think he ticks an awful lot of boxes for Chelsea as he does for Arsenal. But yeah, I think they have more room for I think Hato to come in and could do that Gusto job and that’s what Chelsea want. They want competition.
“Obviously we see how the center half situation pans out in that left side. I think he will move Hato. I think there’s a good chance it might be Chelsea because you do need that.”
Who is Jorrel Hato?
Despite being just 19 years of age, Hato has already established himself as a key player in the Ajax defence. They finished just short of winning the Dutch league this season.
Teammate Jordan Henderson described the defender as ‘fantastic’ to the Ajax official website, and he has provided an attacking threat from the backline this season.
Hato has two goals and six assists to his name in 31 Eredivisie games, coming close to the goal contributions of Chelsea’s current left-back, Marc Cucurella.
Maresca has made it clear that the Spaniard plays a key part in his side’s attacking plans, and could get even more out of Hato if he was to make the move.
