Chelsea is on the verge of finalizing its first significant departure of the summer transfer window, potentially clearing the path for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to join Stamford Bridge.
To generate funds for the acquisition of the highly valued No.9, estimated at around €120 million, Chelsea has opted to sell academy graduates, viewing it as the most practical approach.
According to a report from Sky Sports Deutschland, the pieces are falling into place for a transfer that would involve Ian Maatsen permanently moving to Borussia Dortmund.
Maatsen, a young Dutch player, played a pivotal role in Dortmund’s recent success, including scoring the second goal in their 4-2 victory over Atletico Madrid, which propelled them to the Champions League semi-finals.
His loan spell in the Bundesliga has seen him impress greatly.
Patrick Berger noted, “Ian Maatsen is eager to leave Chelsea permanently in the summer, and Chelsea is already aware of his desire.”
“The left-back, who has contributed two goals and two assists for Dortmund, is thriving in his current environment and is keen to continue. His release clause is set between €35-40 million.”
Dortmund’s strong interest in securing Maatsen’s services is understandable, given his remarkable performance since joining the club.
His Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has surged from €6.6 million at the beginning of the year to nearly €19 million presently.
If this upward trend continues, BVB could realize significant value from the player at Chelsea’s designated price.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is likely to find a sale within that price range acceptable.
The club acknowledges the need for multiple departures to finance a move for Osimhen, especially with reports of PSG intensifying their pursuit of the Nigerian international.
Additionally, Chelsea is set to offload Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah as part of a restructuring of their first-team squad, although Maatsen’s transfer to Dortmund appears to be their primary focus currently.