Chelsea are about to give defender Ian Maatsen an ultimatum.
Journalist Ben Jacobs has told GiveMeSport that Chelsea’s new policy means that they will tell Ian Maatsen that he either signs a new contract or leaves the club.
The Blues recently extended his existing deal by a further 12 months after triggering a one-year option in his contract, but the left-back will still be able to depart Stamford Bridge on a free transfer in 2025.
It seems, however, that Chelsea are not prepared to let such an outcome happen.
Chelsea to give Ian Maatsen ultimatum
According to Jacobs, Maatsen will either sign a new contract at Chelsea or be sold.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said: “In 2024, Maatsen is either going to have to sign a long-term deal or be sold because that is Chelsea’s policy. They’re not just going to allow him to stay at the club throughout 2024 without any clarity.
“I think that a January exit is possible, but not definite because the Chelsea extension just buys the club time.”
Chelsea will find it hard to tie Ian Maatsen down to a new contract
Maatsen has not started a game in the Premier League this season and there are so many other players ahead of him at Chelsea right now.
Levi Colwill, Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella have all started matches at left-back, meaning that the 21-year-old is the fourth choice in that position.
They are never going to get him to put pen to paper on an extension if that does not change. However, at the moment, it probably should not.
While Maatsen has not been starting games, he has got opportunities from the bench and has not really taken any of them.
Against Brentford over the weekend, he did not show enough strength and was beaten too easily on the edge of the Bees’ box just before their counter-attack at the end of the game, which resulted in a goal.
Of course, the argument is the defender is not getting enough time to make an impact or find some rhythm, which is fair enough. But with all of the options Pochettino currently has, minutes are just not something he can offer Maatsen right now.
