Arsenal have opportunity to embarrass Chelsea in the transfer market as ‘generational’ star’s agent arrives in London

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Arsenal are looking to conduct more transfer business before pre-season starts after securing deals for Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Zubimendi is expected to sign for Arsenal at the beginning of July, completing a £55 million switch from Real Sociedad.

Meanwhile, Kepa is in London to complete the formalities ahead of his £5 million move from Chelsea.

A striker and a winger are Andrea Berta’s two top priorities after these additions, although a versatile young defender is also on the agenda for the Gunners this summer.

• READ MORE: Confirmed Arsenal summer 2025 transfer ins and outs, signings and done deals

Jorrel Hato’s agent is in London speaking to Arsenal

Jakub Kiwior’s future at Arsenal is uncertain.

The Pole is attracting interest from a host of top Italian clubs, including the likes of AC Milan and Napoli.

Meanwhile, Fulham are understood to want Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Kieran Tierney has already left N5 for Celtic this summer.

Thus, the Gunners are likely to need to add a left-sided defender, and are advancing in a deal to sign Jorrel Hato, according to Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari.

Arsenal have been interested in Hato for some time now, with Mikel Arteta understood to be a huge admirer of the versatile Dutchman.

Able to play at centre-back and left-back, the 19-year-old would be the ideal replacement for Kiwior, and would likely be willing to play a squad rotation role as he develops over the coming years.

Longari has revealed that the player’s agent was in London on Monday evening to discuss a deal with Arsenal.

Arsenal can embarrass Chelsea by signing Hato

Hato has been described as ‘generational’, with the feeling being in the Netherlands and at Ajax that he’s potentially one of the next best defenders in European football.

He’s been scouted by many top clubs throughout the continent, although nobody has watched him as closely as Arsenal and their London rivals, Chelsea.

The Blues’ interest has been well-documented, and Longari reports that they remain in the race to land the talented youngster.

Hato has been the West London outfit’s top defensive target all summer, and the two clubs have been locking horns in the battle.

Ultimately, it’s come down to who can sell the starlet their project more convincingly.

Given that Chelsea don’t have the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly competing for minutes on the left-hand side of their defence, seducing Hato should be a lot easier.

Thus, if Arsenal are able to beat the Blues in the race for their top target, it’ll be something of a humiliation for Enzo Maresca and the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.