BARCELONA PLOTTING SHOCK MOVE FOR MAATSEN

Spanish giants Barcelona are reportedly eyeing a shock move for Chelsea loanee Ian Maatsen. Chelsea starlet Maatsen is presently on a season-long loan deal to Coventry City in the English Championship. The left-back joined the Sky Blues on loan at the start of the season.

The shock interest of Barcelona in the Coventry City defender was disclosed by English publication The Sun. Maatsen has been one of the best players at Coventry City this season and he has been able to help the club to contention for a playoff spot at the end of the season. The Sky Blues have spent a lot of weeks in the playoff places this season as far as the English Championship is concerned, but they are in seventh spot at the moment and one point off sixth and the final playoff spot currently occupied by Stoke City. Coventry City have 34 points from 22 games, while Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in fifth and Stoke City in sixth both have 35 points though West London club QPR have played one game less than the likes of Stoke City and Coventry City.

Barcelona are cash strapped and they are looking for cheap and quality deals. To this effect, Dutch left-back Maatsen is said to be on their shortlist and it remains to be seen if Chelsea would entertain any transfer talk from the Catalans. It has already been speculated that Chelsea are considering whether or not to recall him due to the injury to Chelsea left-sided defender Ben Chilwell though Coventry City boss Mark Robins has played it down as he’s keen to keep Maatsen at the club until the summer at least.

Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso are the two left-back options in the Chelsea first team, but the latter will soon 31 and might need replacing which is where Maatsen comes in.