West Ham United news amid Nottingham Forest and Burnley interest in Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen
West Ham, Burnley and Nottingham Forest have all expressed an interest in signing Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen, according to the Athletic.
The news outlet [19 July] claims that the 21-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Burnley, is wanted again at Turf Moor and are favourites to sign him this summer.
However, they remain unwilling to meet the £20million valuation it will take to sign the Dutch left-back.
Worth investing
Maatsen appears to be one of the next big things at Chelsea and next season could be the year where he becomes an established Premier League player.
Signing him for that fee will then become nigh on impossible and given Mauricio Pochettino’s ability to work with young players, he’s more likely than not expected to get a tune out of the Dutchman.
With Aaron Cresswell no longer good enough or young enough to play week in and week out, it makes sense to sign a left-back for the long term.
Emerson has been decent but does need healthy competition which Cresswell is not likely to provide in the coming seasons.
For that fee, he will be a very good signing and David Moyes should urge the Hammers hierarchy to go out and sign him.
The Blues have a billionaire owner and are willing to spend big this summer and need money to come from incomings to balance the books for FFP so will welcome a good deal for Maatsen.
In other West Ham news, a super-rich club has launched an enquiry into a star player who could follow Declan Rice out of the door as his agent may engineer a transfer.