Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to keep Ian Maatsen in his first-team squad this season, but there’s still a chance he may be allowed to leave the club.
That is according to The Evening Standard.
They claim that Mauricio Pochettino has now told Ian Maatsen he wants him to stay at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer.
It is understood that the 21-year-old is currently in contract negotiations with Chelsea, who were previously prepared to let him go for just £20million plus add-ons earlier in the transfer window.
The report explains that Maatsen will play as a winger or No 10 if he stays where he is for the upcoming season. However, it’s not been completely ruled out that he could go out on loan.
Finally, West Ham are named as frontrunners for the Dutch youngster amid further interest from the likes of Burnley, Ajax and Lens.
If Pochettino is telling you he wants you to stay, that should be more than enough to convince the player to stay put at Chelsea. It’s important that the club’s recruitment staff listen to the manager’s wishes, too.
The Dutchman was the surprise package of the pre-season tour of the United States, which has been the driving force behind him emerging in Pochettino’s plans.
We saw last season him play a crucial role in Burnley’s title-winning season in the Championship. This was an attack-minded left-back, though.
His eye-catching pre-season performances for Chelsea have been either as a winger or central playmaker.
It’s could be so useful this season having an extremely versatile player like Maatsen.
As long as he gets chances and minutes on the pitch, we love the idea of him getting a full-time promotion into the senior squad.
We’ve seen in the past a number of full-backs transition into wingers, so could Maatsen be the next great success story to follow suit?
Described as a player with “enormous potential” by Pochettino himself (Football London), Maatsen is someone we can’t wait to watch moving forward.
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