Nottingham Forest readying £15million bid for Ian Maatsen as they look to beat West Ham to the Chelsea defender
Nottingham Forest will try to beat West Ham and Burnley to the signing of Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen as they prepare a £15million bid, according to the Daily Mail.
The English newspaper revealed via their website on Thursday (20 July) that Forest are eager to bring Maatsen to the club to solve their left-back issues after they declined to follow up their option to bring Renan Lodi to the club permanently from Atletico Madrid.
West Ham have reportedly targeted Maatsen for their left-back position as they look to strengthen their squad this summer. This news comes following a report in the Daily Mail [19 July] linking current Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell with a move to Wolves.
West Ham need to start moving quickly
If the Hammers don’t start being proactive in their pursuit of summer signings, they may end up being beaten to all of their key transfer targets. Nottingham Forest moving ahead of the other options will give them a huge boost here.
This is the second occasion where West Ham may be beaten to a signing by another side who are willing to move quicker after Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria has been linked with a move to Lens after talks with West Ham have slowed.
Maatsen would be a brilliant signing for the East London club, as they look to target younger full-backs this summer after he impressed on loan with Burnley last campaign.
He also provides plenty of versatility. Probably more of a left wing-back rather than a full-back, but he can play both positions brilliantly, while he started on the left wing in Chelsea’s pre-season game against Wrexham on 19 July and scored two goals.
In other West Ham news, Danny Ings has been linked with a move away from the club.
