Ajax technical director Kevin de Lang has claimed that the club are hopeful of Arsenal target Jorrel Hato signing a new contract with the club.
The 17-year-old centre-back has been at the heart of Ajax’s defence this season and has emerged as one of the best young defensive talents in Europe.
However, he only has 18 months left on his contract with the Dutch giants and Arsenal are pushing hard to take him to the Emirates, if not this month, then in the summer.
De Lang insisted that the club want Hato to continue at Ajax going forward and claimed that talks are still on over a new deal with the defender.
He conceded that changes behind the scenes at the club have led to delays with regards to securing Hato’s future but insisted that the club remain hopeful that the teenager will sign a new contract.
The Ajax technical director told Dutch daily the Algemeen Dagblad: “We would like him to stay and we are also hopeful that we will get it [new contract] out of him.
“It may have taken too long, but there have also been changes in our management.
“But I am hopeful that we will get it out of him.
“It is logical that we will pay a lot of attention to it.”
It remains to be seen whether Hato signs a new contract and push for a move in the summer.
