As the transfer market gets underway, teams across the globe are actively trying to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season and Aston Villa are one among them. The Villans are continuing their negotiations with Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen as they look to bolster their fullback department.
Ian Maatsen To Aston Villa Getting Closer
🚨🟣🔵 Negotiations between Ian Maatsen and Aston Villa over personal terms are progressing very well.
⏳🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/UWA8PJtpUL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2024
Negotiations In Progress With The Player
Earlier, Fabrizio Romano reported that Aston Villa were pushing to sign Maatsen along with Borussia Dortmund, whom the defender was out on loan with, in 2023/24.
A few hours later, David Ornstein tweeted an exclusive that the Birmingham-based club had reached an agreement with the Blues, the fee believed to be around £37 million, a little higher than his release clause of £35 million.
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The story continued to develop as the evening progressed, with Romano confirming that Unai Emery’s side offered the Dutch international a six-year deal, with the £37 million all but secured for Chelsea if the club and the player come to a full agreement on personal terms.
At the time of writing, Romano has given an update that the negotiations between the club and player are progressing well, with it looking ever more likely that Villa will beat the Bundesliga side to the 22-year-old’s signature.
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Why Chelsea Are Looking To Part With Ian Maatsen?
Maatsen is a product of Chelsea’s youth academy, meaning his sale would give Chelsea “pure profit” as a homegrown talent. Despite impressing in pre-season for the Blues last campaign, he only made 12 league appearances from August until January, with Mauricio Pochettino preferring to use Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell, and as a result was loaned out to Germany for the rest of the season.
At Dortmund, he thrived under Edin Terzic, making 23 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals, and proving to be a pillar of the Black and Yellows’ defence as they reached their first Champions League final in 11 years.
With Lewis Hall also expected to sign permanently for Newcastle from Chelsea after his loan at St James’ Park for a fee of £28 million, Chelsea will be licking their lips at the sight of receiving a total of £65.5 million for him and Maatsen, who have made just 28 appearances for the Blues between them.
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With Cucurella’s strong end to the season for Chelsea, and Chilwell the vice-captain of the club despite his patchy injury record – along with the “pure profit” scenario for the club – it is clear why the Blues are happy to move on from Maatsen who promised so much.
Still, with the left-back set to be allowed to test himself in the Champions League once again for a side, he will no doubt feature regularly for, a move away could well be the best thing for his career in the future.
