West Ham enter race to sign Chelsea star Ian Maatsen

West Ham have entered the race to sign Chelsea’s young star Ian Maatsen, who has impressed Blues head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Maatsen impressed last season on loan at Burnley and helped them win the Championship title under highly-rated manager Vincent Kompany. The 21-year-old left-back was named in the Championship Team of the Season and Burnley are keen to take him to Turf Moor in a permanent deal.

Maatsen is also wanted by fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest, while according to the Guardian, West Ham have now also entered the race for him. The Hammers are believed to view Maatsen as an ideal replacement for Aaron Cresswell, who is in talks over a move to Wolves.

West Ham’s Technical Director Tim Steidten Shortlists Maatsen

West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten has shortlisted Maatsen – and they could make their move if and when Cresswell departs.

Chelsea have not yet made a final decision on Maatsen’s future and he has impressed head coach Pochettino, but the Blues may let him leave for £20m. That price tag could be a problem for Burnley and provide a boost to both Forest and West Ham in their hopes of landing his signature.

Maatsen’s Career So Far

Maatsen has one year left on his current deal and has appeared just once for Chelsea’s first team, coming off the bench in a 7-1 Carabao Cup win over Grimsby Town. The Netherlands U21 international has previously spent time on loan at Charlton and Coventry in League One and the Championship respectively.

Conclusion

It remains to be seen where Maatsen will end up, but it looks like West Ham could be his next destination. With his impressive performances last season, it is no surprise that he is attracting interest from Premier League clubs. It will be interesting to see how this transfer saga plays out in the coming weeks.