Christian Falk’s latest Daily Briefing column is full of interesting stuff for Chelsea fans. Ian Maatsen has become the centre of attention in Germany after performing to a high level in the Champions League semi final this week, and the insider has an update on his future.
It’s been clear since he began his loan to Dortmund in January that they would love to sign him permanently. There’s a €40m release clause in the deal, but the Bundesliga side are struggling to afford it.
That opens the door for their old rivals Bayern Munich, who have also got an eye on him. They already have a star left back in Alphonso Davies, but his contract is running down and he’s been hotly tipped for a move to Real Madrid this summer.
“Ian Maatsen’s €40m release clause is a problem – it’s too much for Dortmund at the moment. They are working on another loan deal. It’s not true that the defender said he won’t return to Chelsea – he never said that. He would nonetheless love to stay longer at Dortmund but they would first need to get the price down or make a new arrangement with Chelsea,” Falk wrote.
“It’s a point worth making that Bayern Munich do not know what’s currently happening with Alphonso Davies. There’s no offer yet from Real Madrid and no one is sure if they’re even still interested because he hasn’t played so well in the last month. Maatsen could be a solution if they do end up selling Davies to Real. So there’s another option for Maatsen to stay in the Bundesliga.”
Two opposing forces at work
So what does this all mean? Well, if it’s true that Bayern are going to be willing to offer more than Dortmund, but only if Alphonso Davies leaves, this means that our future is suddenly becoming wrapped up tightly with the Canadian left back.
So far it seems likely he does go to Real Madrid, but they’re in no rush to make an offer. He’s on €216,000 a week at Bayern, according to Capology, and Madrid clearly don’t want to give him a raise. They can afford to wait him out.
Meanwhile we are in the opposite position. We’re desperate to sell Maatsen before the June 30th accounting deadline to try and balance this season’s books.
Those are two forces pulling against each other, and it will be interesting to see which breaks first.
