Chelsea make major Jorrel Hato transfer decision as Xavi Simons dream revealed

Chelsea have made contact with Ajax over a possible move for defender Jorrel Hato as the Blues look to bolster their defensive options, football.london understands.

As reported last week, Chelsea have the 19-year-old defender on their radar and they were considering making an official move for him. Seven days on from that initial report and the Blues have made their first move. The west London club have been in contact with Ajax to gauge whether a deal would be possible this summer.

Chelsea have initiated contact with Hato's camp over personal terms, football.london understands, and there is hope they can be agreed with relative ease. The Blues are looking to sign another centre-back, as well as have another option at left-back to help ease the burden on Marc Cucurella next season - and Hato ticks both of those boxes.

The Netherlands international's agent has now come out and confirmed the news. "Yes, it's true. Chelsea have contacted Ajax," Hato's agent told Dutch news outlet Telegraaf. "The only thing I can say is that Jorrel is now in talks with Chelsea."

Chelsea are looking for a Dutch double, with Hato's international teammate Xavi Simons also being pursued at the time of writing. Negotiations with the 22-year-old's entourage commenced earlier in the week, with super agent Ali Barat understood to be at the centre of talks. football.london was told on Wednesday that personal terms are extremely close to being agreed and signed off on, with club-to-club talks set to follow between Chelsea and RB Leipzig.

Bayern Munich are also interested in signing Simons, but it appears the Dutchman has his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge instead. Reports coming out of Germany earlier in the week suggest Simons could be available for €65million (£56million), with Leipzig willing to part ways with the Barcelona academy product for the right price.

Simons has always dreamed of a move to SW6, football.london understands, with the versatile attacker believed to be an avid follower of Chelsea when he was growing up. In fact, when he was a child, Simons had a trial at Cobham. However, a move never materialised.

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