January 3rd 2024.
Mauricio Pochettino could be set to lose a key member of his squad, as Borussia Dortmund are reportedly 'confident' of signing Chelsea's Ian Maatsen in the upcoming January transfer window. Either permanently or on loan, the 21-year-old is being heavily linked with a move away from Chelsea.
Maatsen had been close to leaving Chelsea in the summer, but on transfer deadline day rejected a £31.5m move to Burnley. Since then, he has struggled to secure a regular spot in Pochettino's team, normally featuring off the bench in the Premier League.
Dortmund have already expressed an interest in the player and have been in negotiations with Chelsea. They are optimistic that a deal will get done, although it is not yet decided if Maatsen will join them on a loan or a permanent move. It is thought that Chelsea wish to sell Maatsen, but Dortmund are more in favour of taking him on loan initially.
The German side currently sit fifth in the Bundesliga, 15 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, and it is believed that Maatsen is open to joining them.
Speaking earlier this month, Pochettino admitted that Maatsen had struggled to progress 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. he came from Burnley last season in the Championship. To perform at Chelsea, with all respect, is not the same and the competition is different.”
With the January transfer window fast approaching, it looks like Maatsen could soon be making the move to Dortmund. If a deal is successful, it will be a big loss for Pochettino and his team.
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