Daniel Farke’s plans for January became a lot clearer after he spoke to the media on Monday following a key injury update.
The fans have been crying out for the club to take action on problem positions for some time, having seen areas left exposed for years. When asked about his January plans, off the back of sharing that Sam Byram would be out until the new year with hamstring trouble, Farke shared that it was always in his mind to sign a left-back (via the YEP):
Leeds tried for Luke Thomas from Leicester City in the summer, before he opted to move to Sheffield United in the Premier League.
When looking at the market for left-backs, there aren’t a great deal that stand out in the Championship as ‘must sign’ or are definitely able to prise from rival clubs.
So, looking upward into the Premier League for a half-season loan makes sense, where Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen ought to be high on the list.
Having rejected a permanent move to Burnley in the summer, Maatsen might have ambitions higher than higher-end Championship and lower-end Premier League, but there doesn’t seem to be a totally viable pathway there at Stamford Bridge, with his only starts this season in the EFL Cup.
A league-winner in the Championship last term, and a teammate of Crysencio Summerville in Netherlands U21s, Maatsen might be open to the idea of dropping down again if there is a clear route to him succeeding long-term, something Chelsea often fail their young stars with.
Whether or not Chelsea would sanction such a deal is another question, but the guarantee of a big fee upon promotion could tempt them to accept.
