Chelsea has had one of the best climaxes of the 23–24 season while securing a spot in European football. This spell under Mauricio Pochettino was something incredible to see, but not prominent enough. The Argentine failed to retain his job despite his efforts. He has been replaced by young and pragmatic coach Enzo Maresca, who will take the sidelines at Stamford Bridge soon. Despite a new shift in management, one situation seems to repeat itself. That being another promising player aiming to leave Stamford Bridge like Kai Havertz, who was a future star. The player in this repetitive situation is none other than Ian Maatsen of Chelsea, who recently featured in the Champions League final. This leaves the Italian manager in a dilemma. He is responsible for retaining talents rather than offloading them. Especially when the concern is regarding a direct Premier League rival like Manchester City.
Ian Maatsen and his future at Chelsea
Maatsen is one of the most in-demand young players in the market at the tender age of 22, and he is still under the contract of Chelsea. He has had an impressive year at Dortmund, having made several appearances for the club and even helping them reach the UCL final. At 22, he boasts experience that only a few have. As a matter of fact, top clubs around the world are interested in the starlet. Premier League clubs that will be competing in the Champions League are in need of versatile wingbacks. Manchester City and Aston Villa are two significant big names that have inquired about acquiring Maatsen. Apart from that, Vincent Kompany, the new manager at Bayern, is also interested in a new full-back. Ian Maatsen could be a good replacement for Alphonse Davies, who seeks a Real Madrid move this summer.
Ian Maatsen’s impressive stint at BVB with 2 goals and 2 assists as a defender has raised some eyebrows, along with his current market value. The player with a $35 million release clause will definitely garner more money than his market value. Chelsea also wishes to make a profit on the Dutchman without violating FFP regulations. Even after promising a profit upon departure, Maresca is unsure about letting the prodigy go. This will only weaken Maresca’s position as a manager, as the line of defence is struggling the most with Thiago Silva’s departure to Brazil and Reece James’ inconsistency due to injuries. A significant number of backups are necessary as the Italians aim to win the conference league.
Another Kai Havertz dilema
Chelsea has a long history of selling talented players who shine when they are not at Stamford Bridge. Salah and Kevin De Bryune are prime examples of this. The same thing was seen with Kai Havertz when he was sold to Arsenal. Havertz was the reason why Chelsea won the Champions League. The only goal scorer in the UCL final against the city secured his move under Arteta, where he has replaced primary strikers. Havertz has excelled under Arteta and is currently one of the best forwards in the Premier League. He has scored 13 goals and provided 7 assists for the Premier League giants, making a very close encounter of lifting the title.
| Kai Havertz’s stats for Arsenal in 2023/24 | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | Tally |
| Games | 37 |
| Goals | 13 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Goals + assists per 90 | 0.5 |
| Chances created | 46 |
| Duels won | 197 |
| Stats via FotMob | |
A similar situation can happen again, this time with Ian Maatsen, who is slowly entering his prime while still under Chelsea contract. Although the left-back situation is secure presently with Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella, letting Maatsen go is a big gamble. It is better to set him off for loans where he can improve and not sell to direct rivals. Maatsen is not just an impressive fullback, but he also has the potential to play up front on the line. Former Coventry City teammate Simon Moore has described the Dutchman as “exceptional.” The player has also expressed his desire to make more first-team appearances. He wants to unleash his full potential where he is valued, and Stamford Bridge looks like a bleak place. It won’t be surprising if Maatsen thrives somewhere better and turns out to be a player that Chelsea regrets letting go of.
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