5 months ago
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Borussia Dortmund are lining up an opening offer to sign Ian Maatsen on a permanent basis – but the figure falls some way short of Chelsea’s valuation of the player.
Maatsen spent the second half of last season on loan at Dortmund, impressing at left-back as the Bundesliga club reached the final of the Champions League, where they were beaten by Real Madrid.
Since emerging from Chelsea’s academy in 2019, Maatsen has been limited to just 15 appearances in all competitions for the first-team and has also been sent on loan to Charlton, Coventry and Burnley in recent years.
Maatsen has a £35million release clause in his contract at Stamford Bridge and it’s understood Chelsea are standing firm on that figure given the full-back’s eye-catching last six months in Germany.
According to ESPN, Dortmund are determined to capture Maatsen on a permanent deal this summer, though are reluctant to pay the Dutchman’s release clause in full.
It’s claimed BVB will instead test Chelsea’s resolve with a bid of between £20-25m for the versatile full-back, who can also be deployed on the wing.
The reports adds that the Blues are willing to let the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Trevoh Chalobah and Maatsen leave ahead to help balance the books and stay on the right side of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Maatsen’s current contract in west London, which he signed in January, runs through to the summer of 2026.
In the build-up to Dortmund’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, Maatsen revealed that his future was still up in the air.
‘I still have a contract and after the summer we’re going to decide where my future is going to be,’ he told reporters.
‘I know I came here to Dortmund to prove myself that I can play on the highest level and the highest stage and that’s what I’m doing now.
Asked whether he had discussed his future with Chelsea, Maatsen replied: ‘No, not yet.
‘They came a couple of times to Dortmund to just see how I am.
‘They are happy with my development.’
An uncapped Maatsen was included in the Netherlands’ preliminary 30-man squad for Euro 2024 last month, but was subsequently axed by Ronald Koeman and will play no part in Germany this summer.
‘We have multiple options on his spot that I prefer,’ Koeman later explained.
‘Daley Blind had a fantastic season with Girona, Micky van de Ven plays left back at Tottenham, Nathan Ake…’
Koeman added: ‘I FaceTimed Maatsen this morning. No, [it was not a difficult conversation]. This is my job, I know these moments are coming.
‘I had to think about when to tell Ian Maatsen my decision because he still has to play a Champions League final.
‘I thought this morning was the right moment to tell him because he would still have three days left to focus on the final. He is disappointed.’
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