December 30th 2023.
Ian Maatsen could be on the move in January as Borussia Dortmund are reportedly in talks with Chelsea to sign the 21-year-old in the upcoming transfer window. Maatsen was close to leaving the Blues in the summer but rejected a move to Burnley on deadline day.
Since then, the Dutchman has had difficulty finding consistent playing time under Mauricio Pochettino, having only started one Premier League game this season. It appears that Dortmund are now looking to take advantage of Maatsen's lack of involvement, with Voetbal International claiming they are already in talks with Chelsea. The player himself is reportedly open to a move to the Bundesliga side, who are currently fifth in the table, 15 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Pochettino had previously commented on Maatsen's difficulty transitioning to the Premier League after impressing during Chelsea's pre-season campaign. He said, "Young players sometimes they can impress you in pre-season but you need to give them time after to relax. Sometimes they struggle. He’s in our squad and a great kid. He’s got great quality and can play in different positions but it’s about giving him time. To perform at Chelsea, with all respect, is not the same and the competition is different. But he’s a player that is in our plans and, of course, we celebrate that he is with us because he is always helping us.”
It remains to be seen whether Maatsen will depart Chelsea in January or stay and fight for his place in the squad. If he does leave, it will be interesting to see how the youngster fares in a new environment.
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