Chelsea hope Borussia Dortmund can have the Jude Bellingham effect on Ian Maatsen during his loan spell in the second half of the season, according to reports. Maatsen is set to join the Bundesliga giants this month, and Chelsea are said to have already drawn up a plan for the summer.
Last year, the 21-year-old left-back opted to fight for his place under Mauricio Pochettino rather than return to Burnley, where he shone on loan in the Championship last season.
But he has started just three times in all competitions this term, with many of his 15 appearances coming as a makeshift winger.
According to The Telegraph, Maatsen is set to complete a £2million loan switch to Dortmund until the end of the campaign.
He was due to travel to Germany on Tuesday for negotiations over personal terms and a medical before completing his move.
And while his contract was nearing its expiry, the report claims that Maatsen will pen a new Chelsea deal until 2027 upon departing.
The Blues are said to hope Maatsen boosts his value in the Bundesliga and Champions League with the view of selling him permanently in the summer.
His new contract at Stamford Bridge is thought to include a release clause, the value of which remains to be seen.
But the report adds that Chelsea have paid attention to Bellingham and Jadon Sancho’s stock sky-rocketing at the Westfalenstadion in recent years before Dortmund have cashed in.
Bellingham, 20, spent three years at Dortmund before leaving in a £115m deal to Real Madrid last summer, banking a £90m profit.
The Black and Yellow signed Sancho from Manchester City’s academy for around £8m in 2017. Four years later, Manchester United splurged £73m for his signature.
Chelsea are hopeful that Dortmund can have the same impact on Maatsen’s value, partly contributing to the modest loan fee they have accepted for the talented Dutchman.
After Chelsea’s dismal 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, Pochettino confirmed that Maatsen was edging closer to an exit.
He told reporters: “It’s obvious that he’s [Maatsen] not here because he’s in negotiations, and when something happens, the club will inform.”
Maatsen will likely join Sancho as two high-profile Premier League arrivals at Dortmund by the end of the week. The latter is nearing a return, also on loan, to end his exile from Erik ten Hag’s plans at Old Trafford.
