Fabrizio Romano says Chelsea are about to receive a £21.1m bid for their ‘rising star’ player.
Enzo Maresca is the new man in the dugout following Mauricio Pochettino’s dismissal and he will already be working on identifying transfer targets.
The Italian head coach is expected to implement a possession-based approach and as such, he’ll be keen to add some new profiles to his squad.
Though, equally, Maresca will be signing off player sales and one ‘rising star’ could be nearing a Stamford Bridge exit.
Borussia Dortmund ready £21.1m bid for Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen
Ian Maatsen spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund and flourished, so much so that they want to sign him on a permanent deal.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Dortmund are preparing to submit an initial proposal worth £21.1m for the 22-year-old.
Maatsen has a £35m release clause but the German outfit are reluctant to activate it and are discussing a new price with Chelsea.
The former Burnley man is considered a ‘priority’ signing, so it seems Dortmund will be prepared to make a second and improved bid if their first gets knocked by.
Chelsea should keep Ian Maatsen
Evidently, Chelsea are keen to sell Maatsen as he’d be a pure profit sale, however, they should seriously consider keeping him.
Maresca could use him as an inverted left-back, similar to how he used Ricardo Pereria at Leicester, just on the other side.
Pereira reinvented himself under the former City boss and Maatsen is of a similar profile, so it seems he’d be a great fit for his system.
A telling few weeks await.