Ian Maatsen, a young defender who made his Premier League debut for Chelsea this season, is expected to be let go in January.
Just four months after turning down the opportunity to leave Stamford Bridge on the last day of the summer transfer window, the 21-year-old is about to sign with Borussia Dortmund. The addition will add to Mauricio Pochettino’s hectic month, as the club is anticipated to see a plethora of incomings and outgoings.
He spent entire seasons with Charlton, Coventry City, and Burnley before contributing to the Clarets’ Championship victory the previous campaign. As the summer transfer window came to an end, Vincent Kompany and associates put up a £31.5 million bid for him in an attempt to sign him permanently, but Maatsen turned down the offer.
Since then, he has made 12 appearances in the Premier League this season, most of which have been as a substitute. The Telegraph also claims that advanced negotiations are already underway with the German side to finalize an agreement.
But it’s yet unknown if the left-back would sign a long-term contract or go on loan at first. According to reports, Dortmund wants to get rid of him as soon as possible in order to balance their transfer plans with FFP constraints. The Blues would rather see him signed to a temporary contract for the duration of the 2023–2024 season.
TALK ABOUT IT! Can Chelsea place among the top four this year? Post a comment below.
Maatsen is reportedly amenable to a transfer as well, despite his manager’s suggestion last month that the player wasn’t quite ready for a spot in his starting lineup. Pochettino stated: “Young players sometimes they can impress you in pre-season but you need to give them time after to relax.” This is true even though the team activated an option to extend his contract until 2025. They encounter difficulties occasionally.
