Player ‘should be ready’ to leave Chelsea in January – Club evaluating ‘creative options’ to agree deal with Blues

Borussia Dortmund have identified Chelesea’s Ian Maatsen as one of their targets for the January window, according to Bild.

The Bundesliga side are keen on bolstering the left side of defence and the focus is on the 21-year-old.

BVB have been keeping tabs on the Chelsea player for a long time and ‘could strike now’ to try to secure his services.

The Netherlands U21 international has 18 months left on his deal and the report says he’s valued at €20m. This is a problem for Dortmund because sporting director Sebastian Kehl doesn’t have a lot of funds available for the winter market.

A temporary move is also not an option because Chelsea have exhausted their loan quota. The German club haven’t given up yet because Bild state they are evaluating ‘creative options’ to acquire the Dutchman’s signature.

Maatsen, for his part, ‘should be ready’ to make a switch to the Signal Iduna Park and this would only be possible if BVB find a creative formula to agree a deal with the Blues.

Maatsen has made 12 league appearances this season, which includes one league start. Apart from the Chelsea fullback, Tottenham Hotspur’s Sergio Reguliòn, who’s on loan at Manchester United, is also a target for Dortmund.