Borussia Dortmund are cursing their luck that Aston Villa have moved for defender Ian Maatsen, considering it a ‘bitter transfer setback’.
That’s according to BILD, who cover it today and how Dortmund will be forced to look elsewhere in a position that they thought they had well covered.
The newspaper explains that it has been clear since Wednesday that Maatsen would not be returning to Dortmund this summer following his successful loan spell at the German club in the second half of this season.
He is instead set to move to Aston Villa, with reports in England making it clear that they’re pushing to get a deal done with Chelsea for the left-back.
That’s a ‘bitter transfer setback’ for Dortmund, who won’t be competing with Unai Emery’s side for the player in any way shape or form.
That was explained earlier this week, with it reported in Germany that Dortmund wouldn’t be matching Aston Villa’s bid for the player, and he would instead be signing for the latter sooner rather than later.
BILD continue that today and explain that while Dortmund had been keen to sign Maatsen on a permanent basis from Chelsea, the deal ultimately fell through, and Aston Villa have stepped in.
The Champions League finalists are now enacting an emergency plan and moving for Fenerbahce’s Ferdi Kadioglu, who is valued at €25m, a much more affordable figure than what had been quoted for Maatsen.
