BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea ‘leading race’ for £40m Ben Chilwell replacement as Arsenal, Real Madrid suffer setback

Chelsea have reportedly stolen a march on Real Madrid and Arsenal in the race to sign 18-year-old Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who is valued at around £40m by the Dutch giants.

 

Enzo Maresca’s defensive ranks have been hit by injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile in recent weeks, and there are fears that the former could miss the rest of the season with a hamstring problem.

 

Fofana recently rejected Maresca’s suggestion that he might not play again before the campaign is up, affirming that he is targeting a return for March, but there are no guarantees that he will be back by the spring.

 

Alongside the injuries to Badiashile and Fofana, exiled left-back Ben Chilwell will leave the club either this month or in the summer, and Axel Disasi has also been tipped to make a swift exit amid links with Serie A.

 

As captain Reece James cannot be trusted to stay fit either, defensive reinforcements may be high on the Blues’ agenda, and CaughtOffside claims that the Blues are at the head of the queue to sign HatoMenu

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Chelsea ‘leading race’ for £40m Ben Chilwell replacement as Arsenal, Real Madrid suffer setback

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter

Published: January 12 2025 | 23:09

Blues over Bernabeu? Chelsea leapfrog Real Madrid in pursuit of ‘prodigy’

Chelsea have reportedly stolen a march on Real Madrid and Arsenal in the race to sign 18-year-old Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who is valued at around £40m by the Dutch giants.

 

Enzo Maresca’s defensive ranks have been hit by injuries to Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile in recent weeks, and there are fears that the former could miss the rest of the season with a hamstring problem.

 

Fofana recently rejected Maresca’s suggestion that he might not play again before the campaign is up, affirming that he is targeting a return for March, but there are no guarantees that he will be back by the spring.

 

Alongside the injuries to Badiashile and Fofana, exiled left-back Ben Chilwell will leave the club either this month or in the summer, and Axel Disasi has also been tipped to make a swift exit amid links with Serie A.

 

As captain Reece James cannot be trusted to stay fit either, defensive reinforcements may be high on the Blues’ agenda, and CaughtOffside claims that the Blues are at the head of the queue to sign Hato.

 

Chelsea told to pay £40m for Hato?

Blues over Bernabeu? Chelsea leapfrog Real Madrid in pursuit of ‘prodigy’

The 2006-born defender has already played 90 times for Ajax, registering four goals and eight assists in the process, while coming up with three goals and five assists from 29 matches in the current campaign.

 

Hato has played across the backline during the embryonic stages of his career, but the 18-year-old has exclusively featured on the left-hand side this term, both as a wing-back and out-and-out left-back.

 

The Netherlands international could therefore serve as a direct replacement for Chilwell at Stamford Bridge, and both Arsenal and Real Madrid have supposedly fallen behind Chelsea in the race for the teenage ‘prodigy’.

 

Hato’s youth and versatility apparently makes him a highly attractive prospect for the Blues, who will reportedly have to fork out between £40m and £45m for a player that is still contracted to Ajax for another three-and-a-half seasons.

 

Ajax’s technical director Alex Kroes is reportedly keen to see Hato remain in Amsterdam for the long term, but he accepts that the club would not be in a position to turn down such an offer.

 

Which players could Chelsea sell for Hato funds?Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Maresca was naturally quizzed on the situation, the Italian revealing that he was told that Fofana would be absent for between 12 and 16 weeks.

He told reporters: “We speak the same language in terms of we communicate between each other in English and in French, so it has been quite clear.

 

“I spoke with Wes – the 12 to 16 weeks the club mentioned is the situation. Wes is thinking he can recover sooner than that. We are all happy if Wes’ recovers [quicker] and will be available for tomorrow, but we are going to see.

 

“There is not any problem, I just told you what the medical staff said to me, that it is around 12 and 16 weeks. Wes is thinking he can recover earlier than that. We are all happy if Wes is back as soon as possible.”

How are Chelsea reacting to Fofana injury?

Aaron Anselmino has already been recalled from a loan period at Boca Juniors with the view of the young Argentine eventually being considered for a first-team role.

 

However, Maresca added in Friday’s media briefing that the 19-year-old would not be available for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie with Morecambe.

 

Chelsea are currently considering whether they will recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell with Crystal Palace or make a bid for fellow Eagles player Marc Guehi.

 

Speaking in the same press conference, Maresca hinted that both options are currently being considered.

 

Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga are all options to start versus the League Two outfit on Saturday.