Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen has reportedly been linked with a move away from the West London club in recent months.
Ian Maatsen has struggled for regular game time at Stamford Bridge, and the 21-year-old versatile Chelsea defender has now revealed (h/t 90min) that he might have to make a difficult decision regarding his future soon.
The Dutchman is highly rated around Europe, and he has been linked with a number of clubs. He needs regular game time at this stage of his career to continue his development, and Chelsea have not been able to provide him with those opportunities yet.
The defender has revealed that he has had conversations with the manager regarding playing time and they have been positive. He believes that there could be opportunities to play more often for Chelsea in the coming months. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops.
Speaking to AD (h/t 90min), he said, “I still think it’s possible to play more at Chelsea,” he said. “Accepting [you won’t play] is difficult, as a young boy you always want more. I get confidence from the manager’s words and am ready when the opportunity comes. Meanwhile, I have to keep all options open. Maybe I’ll have to make a difficult decision later on, but then Chelsea will also let me know.”
The 21-year-old is versatile enough to operate as a left-back as well as a left-sided central defender. He could be a key player for Chelsea in the coming seasons. The Blues currently have Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella at their disposal.
The former Brighton defender has not been able to live up to the expectations since his big-money move to Stamford Bridge, and it will not be surprising if Chelsea decide to sell him next year. In that case, Maatsen could get more opportunities next season. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can convince him to commit his long-term future to the club with regular game-time assurances.
The 21-year-old is a prodigious talent, and losing him in the coming months would be a blow for the English club. They could regret his exit in the near future. There is no doubt that he has a big future ahead of him, and Chelsea must do everything in their power to hold onto him for the foreseeable future.