Jorrel Hato has confirmed he was at Anfield as Liverpool beat Ipswich Town 4-1 at the weekend. However, he has cleared up any transfer speculation.

Impressively, some of those in attendance at Anfield correctly identified the Ajax starlet among the crowd. The fact of his presence began to spread across social media.

Somewhat conveniently, TeamTalk then exclusviely got word that Liverpool was planning a transfer for Hato, and that Arne Slot was even thinking about bringing a move forward to January. There have been question marks over Andy Robertson this season, while the teenager can also play as a center-back, amid continued doubts over Virgil van Dijk's future beyond the end of the campaign.

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In spite of all this, it turns out that Hato will not be joining Liverpool before the end of the month. Most people probably suspected that outcome all along, but it has now come direct from the horse's mouth.

"I read it all," Hato said of the speculation, in press conference remarks covered by De Telegraaf. "“But I also know that not everything was right. For my development it’s best that I stay at Ajax now."

Hato also cleared up any remaining confusion about what he was doing at Anfield. It turns out he was simply enjoying Ajax's weekend off, taking a trip to Liverpool at the invitation of one of the players:

"I was invited by Ryan Gravenberch," Hato confirmed. The pair were previously teammates at Ajax.

"But I didn’t speak to a director there. Liverpool played well and the atmosphere in the stadium was good, but there is no more to say."

Naturally, that doesn't have to mean that Liverpool won't take a look at Hato. By all accounts, he is a talented young defender (just ask Jordan Henderson), and he does play in a couple of positions where Slot may be looking to strengthen.

The manager has said that the Reds will "definitely" be active in the summer. Gravenberch himself is fresh testimony each week to the prowess of Ajax's youth development conveyor belt, so Hato could plausibly be one to watch — and he's already handed out some unprompted praise to the Anfield atmosphere.

But the manner in which his name appeared almost out of nowhere after a chance Anfield sighting always seemed a little unlikely. For now, it looks as though Liverpool's quiet transfer window will continue, with the existing squad's focus firmly on bringing home as many trophies as possible between now and the end of the season.