Chelsea struck with loan conundrum as they look to send Ian Maatsen to Dortmund

Chelsea have been struck with a loan conundrum ahead of Ian Maatsen's potential move to Borussia Dortmund this window.

According to reports, the Blues have made a verbal agreement over a loan deal for Ian Maatsen to join the German outfit this month.

Maatsen - who spent last season on loan with Burnley - will travel to Germany on Tuesday for his medical, which they believe will take place within the next 48 hours.

While the Blues will be delighted to get Maatsen - who has featured 12 times in the Premier League - some regular playing time, they will first have to manage their current loanees, as per FIFA rules.

Rules state that clubs are only allowed to loan out seven players internationally at any one time to try to prevent the stockpiling of talent.

Currently, ahead of Maatsen's move, Chelsea already have seven players loaned out to foreign clubs - meaning they would have to cancel one of their existing loans in order for the full-back to leave.

Their current loanees include Romelu Lukaku, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Angelo, Hakim Ziyech, David Fofana, Gabriel Slonina and Diego Moriera.

The most likely of those to have their loan deal terminated is winger Ziyech, with Galatasaray ready to cut ties with the player just five months after his arrival in the Turkish Super Lig.

He's featured 14 times in all competitions, with two more goals coming in the Champions League but has been 'ineffective' and not able to 'perform as expected', according to Turkish outlet NTV Spor.

And amid the player's constant battle to stay fit this season - having missed nine games through injury after problems with his foot and hamstring, Galatasaray are now said to be ready to cut his loan deal short and send him back to Chelsea.

The Blues also recently opted