Chelsea defender eyed by Manchester City with £35 million release clause to be targeted | OneFootball

Manchester City officials have reportedly been monitoring the performances of on-loan Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen at Borussia Dortmund this week.

Following on from an exemplary campaign working under Vincent Kompany at Burnley in their history-making Premier League promotion campaign in the Championship, Maatsen’s future last summer was thrust into doubt.

Whilst Chelsea understandably recognise the Dutch defender’s high ceiling in the game, there was little room in their squad to hand him significant game time, whilst Burnley were unable to finance a permanent move for the player.

Prior to joining Borussia Dortmund on loan for the remainder of the ongoing season in January, Maatsen signed a contract extension until 2026 with Chelsea, but that agreement included a £35 million release clause that, based on recent form, will almost certainly be met.

Now, Manchester City have emerged in the race for the player and are currently in the process of monitoring his performances with the German club, and most recently in the UEFA Champions League this week.

That is according to the information of journalist Graeme Bailey, who reports that Manchester City were one of the teams present through scouting representatives at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night watching Ian Maatsen in action against Paris Saint-Germain.

Manchester City are claimed to have been ‘following his progress’, and while they are ‘considering’ a new left-back this summer, Maatsen is reportedly ‘someone they are doing their work on’.

However, City will not be alone in being impressed by Maatsen’s form, with the same report naming Bayern Munich as ‘confirmed admirers’ of the versatile defender, whilst Aston Villa were also present at Wednesday night’s UEFA Champions League game against PSG.

From the side of Borussia Dortmund, it goes without saying that the Bundesliga club will be hoping and believing that the fact Maatsen has performed so well for them this season will lead to the player showing an intention to join on a permanent deal.

Manchester City’s other potential options for the left-back role are likely to be limited this summer, but should a move for targets collapse, Pep Guardiola will likely be confident in his existing options.

Josko Gvardiol has excelled in the position this season having joined the club from RB Leipzig last summer, whilst Nathan Ake has long proven himself as an exceptional asset in a number of positions including the left-sided full-back role.