Chelsea fringe player attracting interest from Bayern

Chelsea will hope to salvage what is left of their disappointing season by qualifying for European competition next term. 

The Blues currently sit 11th in the Premier League table and look set to miss out on European football all together for a second successive season, unless manager Mauricio Pochettino can inspire a turnaround.

Last season the West London outfit ended the campaign in 12th place, and Pochettino has so far failed to improve his side’s fortunes during his first year in charge.

Chelsea did reach the final of the Carabao Cup, though, and face Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

In the meantime, one of the club’s fringe players is attracting interest from one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

As reported by Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, German giants Bayern Munich are interested in left-back Ian Maatsen, who is currently on loan at fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

The Dutchman joined the Blues’ youth academy as a teenager but has failed to ever establish himself as a regular at Stamford Bridge.

Maatsen has impressed since moving to Dortmund

Maatsen, 22, has previously had loan spells with Football League sides Charlton Athletic and Coventry City, and was instrumental in helping Burnley to achieve promotion to the top flight last term.

In total he has made just 16 appearances for Chelsea, though, and he was sent on loan to Dortmund in January after playing just 15 times during the first half of the current campaign.

Maatsen has impressed since joining the German side, scoring once and providing two assists in 12 appearances, and Plettenberg claims that the Netherlands Under-21 international has a release clause of around £35 million in his current contract.

He also claims that Bayern are considering a number of potential targets in case current left-back Alphonso Davies departs the club.