Chelsea are reportedly prepared to listen to offers for Ian Maatsen this January as they struggle to agree a fresh contract with the Burnley-linked player.
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Turf Moor in the Championship, with Vincent Kompany's Clarets cantering to the second-tier title after collecting 101 points.
Maatsen featured in 39 league matches for Burnley last term - starting 38 of those contests - and provided an impressive tally of four goals and six assists for teammates over the course of the campaign.
This calendar year has also seen the left-back receive international recognition, as he was called up to the Netherlands national side for the first time in September after featuring heavily for the Under-21s since the summer of 2021.
According to The Telegraph, Chelsea are ready to listen to offers for Maatsen in the upcoming January transfer window, with the defender yet to agree to new terms at Stamford Bridge.
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The report claims that the Blues are keen on tying the Dutchman down on a long-term contract in West London, where he has played a significant role in the start of the club's 2023-24 term.
Maatsen has started both of Chelsea's EFL Cup successes over AFC Wimbledon and Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as making four cameo appearances off the bench in the Premier League.
It is understood that Mauricio Pochettino's men have already proposed two seperate offers to the left-back who rejected both advances, holding out for a better deal.
The report adds that newly-promoted Burnley had a £31.5m bid for Maatsen accepted in the latter stages of the summer transfer window, although it was ultimately the player himself that turned down the opportunity to rejoin Kompany's Clarets.
It is believed that the defender wanted to remain at Stamford Bridge this term to fight for a starting spot under new head coach Pochettino, however the former Coventry City loanee has failed to start a league match to date.
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Opportunities could be set to increase for Maatsen because of multiple injuries impacting the Chelsea squad, with full-backs Reece James, Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell all set for spells on the sidelines.
The Blues are supposedly reluctant to losing the 21-year-old on a free transfer next summer, meaning that they are willing to entertain advances for the player in the New Year.
Burnley missed out on Maatsen in the dying moments of the summer window, consequently commencing their Premier League return without a fully-fledged left-back in their ranks, with the Clarets potentially in a position to try for their former loanee again in January.
Kompany's side will be looking to earn their first win of the top-flight campaign when they travel to St James' Park to face Newcastle United, who are fresh from dumping treble winners Manchester City out of the EFL Cup.
Carter White
