Chelsea look to have already moved on from their Dean Huijsen setback after turning to another centre-half.
Chelsea were keen on signing Huijsen from Bournemouth this summer, but the 20-year-old has opted to join Real Madrid instead.
It has left the Blues needing to consider other options, with Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa being one name that they could bid for.
Chelsea have scouted Konsa this season, but the 27-year-old and Huijsen are not the only centre-halves the club have looked at.
Chelsea want to sign Jorrel Hato as soon as possible
As well as Konsa, Chelsea also have Jorrel Hato on their radar. In fact, it is now thought that the Ajax youngster has moved up their shortlist.
According to TEAMtalk, following confirmation of Huijsen’s move to Real Madrid, Hato is now a priority target for Chelsea.
The outlet claims that the Blues want to sign him quickly and that the 19-year-old could cost up to £42m when the transfer window opens.
Despite his young age, Hato has been a key player for Ajax in the current campaign. The Dutchman has made nearly 50 appearances, so his development is going extremely well.
Chelsea already have quite a young squad, though, so fans may prefer a more experienced centre-half coming in.
Marquinhos could be a great option for Chelsea, for example, with the Brazilian being linked with a move away from Paris Saint-Germain.
Who Chelsea could have to compete against for Jorrel Hato
Unfortunately for Chelsea, just like with Huijsen, they are not the only club interested in Hato.
The same TEAMtalk report claims that Premier League rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as AC Milan, are also keen on Hato.
Chelsea have beaten Liverpool to signings in the past, though, so are unlikely to back down. They landed both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in 2023, two Liverpool targets.
The Reds’ new status of Premier League champions and having a Dutch manager in charge could give Liverpool the upper hand this time around, however.
