Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in recent months, with West Ham United keen.
A report from 90min has claimed that West Ham United are keen on signing Ian Maatsen next month. But Chelsea will not entertain any loan offers for the versatile 21-year-old defender. They want to get rid of the youngster permanently in the January transfer window.
Ian Maatsen: What Does the Future Have in Store?
The 21-year-old is highly rated in English football, and he has been linked with a number of clubs recently. It will be interesting to see if he decides to move on next month. Maatsen needs regular game time to continue his development, and he is unlikely to get that at Chelsea, especially with players like Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella ahead of him in the pecking order.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will be looking to strengthen their squad in January, and they need to raise some funds through sales in order to comply with the Financial Fair Play regulations. They are reportedly ready to cash in on him.
Selling the 21-year-old could be a good idea for them. He is clearly surplus to requirements at the club. That said, he is a prodigious talent with a big future ahead of him, and he could develop into a top-class full-back with coaching and experience.
Chelsea might end up regretting the decision to sell him, and it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds. Perhaps, the ideal scenario would be to loan him out until the end of the season so that he can continue his development with regular game time and return to Chelsea as a better player next season. But the Blues are not open to such an option and want a permanent sale.
Cucurella has been underwhelming for Chelsea since the big money moved from Brighton & Hove Albion. So, the versatile 21-year-old could have been the ideal long-term replacement for the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, West Ham can utilise the youngster as a replacement for Aaron Cresswell. He can be an upgrade on former Chelsea defender Emerson Palmieri.
Maatsen has been linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City as well. It will be interesting to see where he ends up eventually. The versatile defender is capable of operating as a wing-back as well. He could be the ideal fit for Pep Guardiola’s attacking approach.
