Arsenal have supposedly been dealt a setback in their pursuit of Ajax defender Jorrel Hato, who is close to signing a new contract with the Dutch giants.
At the tender age of 17, Hato has cemented a regular starting role in the heart of the Ajax backline, already making 41 appearances for the Amsterdam giants.
Hato has struck one goal and set up two more in that time and has been integral to Ajax's recent revival, which has seen the Eredivisie heavyweights win eight and draw two of their last 10 league games after a horrendous start to the new term.
Arsenal have been tipped to make a move for the centre-back once he turns 18 later this year, but according to De Telegraaf, Ajax are now close to tying Hato down to fresh terms.
The Netherlands international is currently due to become a free agent in 18 months, but the report claims that he is set to commit his future to Ajax until the summer of 2028.
Arsenal and Ajax struck a £38.5m deal for the transfer of Jurrien Timber over the summer, but the Dutchman suffered a devastating ACL injury 50 minutes into his Premier League debut in August.
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Hato's teammate Steven Bergwijn has also been tipped to swap the Eredivisie for the English capital this month, with West Ham United believed to be keen on bringing the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man back to London.
The 26-year-old returned to his homeland in 2022 after an unsuccessful first spell in the Premier League and has rediscovered his golden touch with the Ajax armband, hitting eight goals and four assists in 21 games this term.
With Mohammed Kudus away at the Africa Cup of Nations and both Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta in the medical bay, attacking reinforcements are high on the Irons' shortlist, but a new report has poured doubt on their chances of poaching Bergwijn from Ajax.
According to Football Insider, West Ham's interest in a deal for the winger is being driven by the club's hierarchy, but David Moyes has reservations over a move for the ex-Lilywhites attacker.
Nevertheless, the club have apparently held preliminary talks over a deal for Bergwijn, but they would most likely have to move unwanted players on before ramping up their efforts to sign the Netherlands international.
Bergwijn's terms with Ajax run until the summer of 2027, and he has amassed a total of 24 goals and 10 assists in 66 matches for John van 't Schip's side over the past year and a half.
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From possible Premier League arrivals to potential departures from England's top flight, Nottingham Forest striker Divock Origi is reportedly being lined up for a switch to MLS.
The 28-year-old is without a goal or assist in nine matches since joining the Tricky Trees on loan from AC Milan over the summer, starting just two Premier League games in 2023-24 so far.
Origi has missed each of Forest's last four fixtures with a groin injury, but the Garibaldi do still possess the option to sign him permanently from Milan at the end of the season.
talkSPORT claims that Forest have no intention of doing so, though, and Nuno Espirito Santo's side could even try to cut the Belgium international's loan spell short this month amid his on-field and off-field struggles.
Unnamed clubs in MLS are believed to be keeping a close eye on developments surrounding the future of Origi, whose contract with AC Milan does not expire for another two-and-a-half years.
Origi achieved cult hero status at Liverpool with a number of dramatic late goals, but the Reds allowed him to run down his contract and join Milan for free at the end of the 2021-22 season.
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Speaking of Liverpool, the Reds' recently-recalled right-back Calvin Ramsay is said to have emerged as a winter transfer target for Leeds United after his unsuccessful Preston North End loan.
The 20-year-old spent the first half of the season at Deepdale but made just two appearances for Ryan Lowe's side, having struggled with a knee injury and COVID-19 infection.
Liverpool exercised their right to recall Ramsay earlier this month, but despite their selection crisis at full-back, the Reds are expected to send him out on loan for the second portion of the campaign.
According to the Daily Mail - via The Mirror - Leeds are weighing up whether to make an approach for Ramsay, having seen their own right-back ranks decimated during the January transfer window.
The Whites have lost both Luke Ayling and Djed Spence since the market reopened, with the former being loaned to Middlesbrough while Spence was recalled by Tottenham ahead of a temporary switch to Genoa.
Liverpool paid £4m to acquire Ramsay's services from Aberdeen in 2022, and the Scotsman made two first-team appearances under Jurgen Klopp during his debut campaign at Anfield.
Ben Knapton
