Chelsea risk £31m transfer failure after 'secret' Man City offer snubbed

Chelsea had hoped to loan or sell Marc Cucurella during the summer transfer window but the Spanish defender has remained at Stamford Bridge ahead of the January transfer window

Fabrizio Romano also revealed that City had a 'secret' approach to sign the 25-year-old on a loan deal with a buy option rejected by Chelsea in January. Cucurella now remains committed to fighting for his place in Pochettino's team with Ben Chilwell clearly the first choice left-back.

Maatsen has been preferred as a substitute ahead of Cucurella so far this season, but the Dutchman could leave Stamford Bridge next summer if he does not start more games. Maatsen will have one year left on his current contract next summer with City now considering a move for the 21-year-old talent, according to 90min.

The report states that talks between the young defender and Chelsea over a new contract will continue ‘over the coming weeks’ and ‘sources close to the situation’ believe Stamford Bridge officials are ‘hopeful’ an agreement will be reached ‘soon'. Left-back has been a problem position for Pep Guardiola since arriving at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2016, with Rico Lewis, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake all filling the role in the absence of Joao Cancelo - who has joined Barcelona on loan.

Pochettino is known to be a fan of Maatsen, having handed the left-back four appearances so far this season, while left-back competition Marc Cucurella has been restricted to just one outing in the Carabao Cup so far. Chelsea could end up having to sell Maatsen for a lower fee than the £31.5million on offer from Burnley earlier this summer - if a contract renewal cannot be agreed - as well as being stuck with Cucurella as back-up to Chilwell.