Chelsea could be forced to listen to offers for academy graduate Ian Maatsen in the January transfer window, with the Blues struggling to tie him to a new long-term deal, the Telegraph reports.
Maatsen’s existing deal is scheduled to expire at the end of the season, leaving the club in a precarious position regarding the future of the youngster.
The 21-year-old was subject to interest from newly promoted Burnley during the summer transfer window, which is unsurprising considering he spent the previous campaign on loan at Turf Moor.
Keen to reunite with the Dutchman following a hugely impressive temporary stint, Burnley lodged a £31.5 million bid to lure Maatsen back to Lancashire.
Their offer was promptly accepted by the Blues, who are always eager to strike a deal, but the player and manager Mauricio Pochettino decided against a summer departure.
Maatsen has established himself as a prominent member of Pochettino’s first-team squad, although he is yet to make his first Premier League start of the season.
He has started both of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup fixtures and made four cameo appearances in the Premier League, making a mark on Pochettino, who has waxed lyrical about the youngster.
However, Chelsea may be forced to put more effort into offloading Maatsen in the January window if there is no resolution to his contract situation when the winter market arrives.
Chelsea made two contract offers to the Dutchman before Burnley’s bid, one of which is claimed to have been worth more than what the player could have earned by moving to Turf Moor permanently.
Marc Cucurella, who made only his first appearance of the season in the 1-0 Carabao Cup third-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, is likely to push for a Stamford Bridge exit in January with first-team minutes hard to come by.
If the Spaniard gets his wish, Pochettino will be extra keen to hang on to Maatsen to provide competition for vice-captain Ben Chilwell at left-back.
