Mauricio Pochettino has wasted a huge opportunity with 21-year-old Chelsea player this season

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Ian Maatsen appears to be on his way out of Chelsea in this January window.

There’s widespread transfer speculation that Ian Maatsen, 21, is on the verge of joining Borussia Dortmund on loan.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported via X on Tuesday that Maatsen will fly to Germany to join Dortmund on loan, but he’s just signed a two-year contract extension at Chelsea before moving.

Missed opportunity with Ian Maatsen

Maatsen’s made 15 Chelsea appearances across all competitions this term, but the reality is that he’s only started three times.

We understand it’s the 21-year-old’s first full season as part of the Blues squad, so it can take time to force your way into the XI. However, we feel Pochettino has frequently overlooked the most obvious solution to play him.

Maatsen was outstanding at left-back during a season-long loan at Burnley last year, where he helped them achieve promotion from the Champioiship.

Despite injuries to Chelsea full-backs Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella in the first half of this campaign, Pochettino has refused to call upon Maatsen at left-back, apart from on rare occasions.

It feels like there’s some sort of acceptance from the fanbase that this is a very young squad that will be up and down all season. Therefore, it’s the perfect time for Chelsea’s manager to keep blooding the youngsters and finding out which players are good enough for the long-term vision.

It’s been a real headscratcher for us that Maatsen’s been restricted to mainly cameo displays as a winger, while centre-back Levi Colwill has struggled out of position at left-back.

This does feel like a missed chance to fast-track the left-sided speedster into the team, but let’s wait and see what a Dortmund loan does for his development. The German club have been one of the very best nurturing emerging stars in recant times.