Perfect opportunity for West Ham United to replace Aaron Cresswell as Ian Maatsen transfer news emerge
West Ham United have now identified the perfect long-term replacement for Aaron Cresswell with Chelsea youngster Ian Maatsen emerging as a top transfer target this summer.
According to the Guardian (9 August), the Hammers are looking at a loan-to-buy deal to sign the former on-loan Burnley left-back with David Moyes hoping to bolster his defensive ranks this summer.
It’s been reported that the Hammers will look to sign the incredibly gifted Dutch full-back at first on a temporary basis once deals are completed for both Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse, with agreements in place for both players.
The Hammers have already lost a whole plethora of players already, with Manuel Lanzini, Gianluca Scamacca, and Nikola Vlasic already following Declan Rice out the London Stadium exit door and another key player could be departing for which David Moyes and technical director Tim Steidten will be desperately searching for a replacement.
Cresswell is attracting interest from a number of Premier League sides most notably Wolves and Nottingham Forest (Alan Nixon, 6 August).
The veteran left-back desires a move elsewhere making his immediate future at the club uncertain, but it seems as if the club are planning for that eventuality with negotiations set to begin for Maatsen after journalist Jacob Steinberg’s news.
He wrote on Wednesday afternoon (9 August): “West Ham have agreed deals to sign Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse.
“West Ham are also looking for a left-winger and are trying to sign the Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen on loan with an option to buy. They could sign a striker after selling Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta.”
The Irons already have Emerson as a capable left-back and replacement for Cresswell but the 21-year-old fits Tim Steidten’s desire to bring a younger crop of players to the East London club while also offering the potential Premier League quality that Moyes has been so desperate to add to his ranks this summer.
In 39 Championship games last season, Maatsen recorded an impressive ten goal contributions (four goals and six assists) marking him out as the best in his position for the best team in the league during the 2022/23 campaign.
There is no guarantee of minutes for the Dutchman at Stamford Bridge with both Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella competing for the left-back role, which could well present West Ham United as the perfect next step up for him.
Cresswell has brought searing attacking quality throughout his nine-year spell in East London and such mastery needs to be replaced and Maatsen is indeed the perfect replacement.
The Dutchman is incredibly versatile, quick, technically gifted, progressive with his actions on the ball and a very capable defender and at 21 years of age, possesses all the makings of a top quality Premier League left-back.
Along with his ten goal contributions in the Championship, Maatsen recorded a whopping 11 big chances created, 1.0 key passes per game, successfully completing 47% of his dribbles whilst also excelling defensively too helping Burnley to 11 clean sheets, averaging 1.4 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 1.3 clearances per game [SofaScore].
In fact, the Netherlands Under-21 international represents a stark upgrade on Italian full-back Emerson.
Over the past 365 days, the Dutch outranks the Italian for a number of metrics including shot-creating actions per 90 (2.38 vs 1.98), progressive passes per 90 (6.21 vs 3.07), progressive carries per 90 (3.36 vs 2.59), tackles per 90 (2.18 vs 1.77), and interceptions per 90 (1.51 vs 1.02), via FBref.
Maatsen is a burgeoning young full-back, one possessing the technical gifts and uniqueness to become one of the best left-backs on the continent and he already received great praise from Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella for his performances in pre-season for Chelsea, describing him as “exceptional”.
Should the Hammers complete a deal for the 21-year-old to go along with deals for Edson Alvarez, Ward-Prowse and Harry Maguire, West Ham United could well be shaping up to have one of the most productive summers in the league, despite leaving it so late.
Maatsen is an opportunity they simply cannot pass up on. An exceptional profile indeed.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have now reached a total verbal agreement for the signing of one experienced Premier League player.