Borussia Dortmund are expected to challenge West Ham and Burnley if Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen is made available for transfer, according to The Daily Mail.
The Dutchman has less than twelve months left on his contract and he has yet to sign a new deal despite being offered a “lengthy” extension.
Maatsen is believed to be “unsure” about whether to put pen to paper. He is reportedly highly rated by his manager Mauricio Pochettino but he is the understudy to Ben Chilwell at left-back.
There is a possibility that the Blues will look to sell him if he doesn’t want to sign on the dotted line, considering he could speak to foreign clubs (like Dortmund) in January about a free transfer next summer.
It has previously been claimed that Chelsea would demand around £20m for Maatsen, but whether that figure is still accurate, it is not known.
Cucurella’s future could determine where Maatsen plays
Manchester United are said to be locked in talks with Chelsea about recruiting Marc Cucurella on loan. However, the Mail suggest that the Blues want Maatsen to decide his future first before sanctioning the Spaniard’s move to Old Trafford.
Whether that, in fact, happens, we shall have to wait and see. At the time of writing, discussions between United and Chelsea are at an advanced stage.
Where does this leave West Ham?
It is very much a waiting game for the Irons. If Cucurella does end up joining United, the chances of David Moyes’ side recruiting Maatsen would diminish significantly.
In any case, the London club may need to offload Aaron Cresswell to make room for the Netherlands Under 21 international. The West Ham star tried to force through a move to Wolves earlier this summer only for the transfer to break down over the asking price. So far, no other club has come in for him.