Chelsea does not intend to let Ian Maatsen go without a fight, English media report. Borussia Dortmund is expressly interested in the services of the Dutchman, but will have to spend a lot of money. The price tag is 35 million euros.
The Guardian writes on Wednesday that Dortmund has started discussions with Chelsea about a transfer of Maatsen. The German top club would like to see the defender come, but negotiations are not yet at an advanced stage.
Chelsea will not settle for less than 35 million euros. The left back still has a contract until next summer and is well in the market. Burnley and West Ham United recently showed interest.
There is a chance that Dortmund will first rent Maatsen for six months, before taking over him permanently next summer. Chelsea is more in favor of a direct takeover to raise money for new acquisitions.
Despite a significant wave of injuries, manager Mauricio Pochettino has only allowed Maatsen to start once in the Premier League this season. The Oranje youth international is therefore on the candidate list to be sold.
Chelsea's hopes of signing a top striker are likely to depend on outgoing transfers making a positive contribution to the Financial Fair Play position. Since Maatsen is a youth product, his transfer fee is pure profit in FFP terms.
Maatsen hardly featured in Pochettino's plans this season, who usually made different choices in the left back position. The thirteen-time Dutch Junior international is experiencing stiff competition at Stamford Bridge and therefore now seems to be getting his money's worth.
This season the counter stands at 400 playing minutes, spread over 16 games the Blues. Maatsen made his starting debut for Chelsea last week in the match against Crystal Palace (2-1 win). Remarkably, the left foot played that match as a right winger.
If Maatsen does indeed move to Dortmund, he will play outside England for the first time in his career. The wing defender played in the youth of Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam and PSV and exchanged the youth academy of the Eindhoven team for that of Chelsea in the summer of 2018.
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