Barcelona eye Ilkay Gundogan repeat with Chelsea transfer decision amid £31.5m exit ultimatum

Barcelona are interested in signing Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen next summer as they search for a long-term Marcos Alonso replacement. The Blues terminated the contract of Alonso in the summer of 2022 before days later he signed for Barcelona until on a deal until 2024 which is set to end at the end of the current season.

Maatsen has played just 84 minutes of Premier League action this season for Chelsea with the bulk of that coming against Fulham after replacing the injured Mykhailo Mudryk at half time. Both of Maatsen's starts have come in the Carabao Cup with the Blues beating both AFC Wimbledon and Brighton at Stamford Bridge in the first two rounds.

On transfer deadline day, Maatsen looked set to depart the club permanently to join Burnley after a loan switch with £30million obligation to buy was accepted by Chelsea. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Turf Moor under Vincent Kompany and was an influential figure in their promotion to the Premier League.

However, despite his ties to Burnley, Maatsen chose to reject the move and fight for his place in west London. While he has made some appearances, considering the injury crisis Chelsea have suffered, particularly at full-back, the decision to stay has perhaps not been proven right thus far.

Nonetheless, there is still plenty of the season to go, but a major contract decision awaits first. Maatsen sees his current deal expire in the summer of 2024 and Chelsea will certainly be looking to avoid another Mason Mount saga. Therefore, according to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues have made it clear that Maatsen must sign a new contract or be sold in the January transfer window.

However, if neither of those things are to happen, the free transfer experts could be waiting to