Pep Guardiola is personally keen to sign 21-year-old Chelsea player for Man City in January

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants to sign Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen in January.

According to 90min, Pep Guardiola is keen on Ian Maatsen and would like to snap him up in the next transfer window.

The left-back’s contract was running down, but the same outlet says Chelsea have now triggered a one-year option in his deal that will take his stay at Stamford Bridge into 2025.

Maatsen may not want to remain in west London for that long, though, especially with City interested in him.

He has barely played this season, with the 21-year-old yet to start a game in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola keen on Ian Maatsen

In terms of natural left-back options, City do not have too many. So Guardiola being keen on Maatsen, as reported by 90min, does make sense.

The fact that the Dutchman is quite versatile may also appeal to the City manager, but it is one reason why Chelsea should be looking to keep him.

That being said, at the end of the day, Maatsen is still a left-back. And if he wants to play there, he knows a move in January may be necessary.

Levi Colwill is the first choice in that position right now, while Ben Chilwell will be expected to compete for it once he returns from injury, though the England international has been playing a bit further forward this season. Nevertheless, he is still a left-back.

The Blues have Marc Cucurella as well, so Maatsen is going to find it hard to become the No.1 left-back in the team.

With that unlikely to happen, we do not think the defender will put pen to paper on a contract extension. And Chelsea clearly have that fear as well, hence their decision to activate the one-year option in his existing deal.