Ezri Konsa shares three-word response to Ian Maatsen’s new Aston Villa message
Ian Maatsen could be the beneficiary of transfer speculation surrounding some of Aston Villa’s key players this summer.
Unai Emery‘s side have been slow to bring in new faces this summer after they missed out on Champions League place via goal difference last season, limiting their ability to spend big in the market.
Yasin Ozcan, Zepiqueno Redmond and Marco Bizot have been brought in by Aston Villa, but much of this summer’s transfer discourse has been dominated by the potential of big names heading the other way.
Villa are running close to the wire financially after missing out on a Champions League windfall and have already picked up a UEFA fine for breaching football earning regulations, with exits firmly on the cards.
The likes of Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers have been heavily linked with moves away with the latter on Chelsea’s radar, but other names could also depart as Villa look to balance their books financially.
Maatsen ‘ready’ as transfer looms for Aston Villa rival
Alongside star players like Rogers, Ramsey and goalkeeper Emi Martinez, Lucas Digne has also been linked with a move away as Villa brace themselves for “big departures” in the wake of their UEFA fine.
Football Insider exclusively revealed last month that Digne had opened talks with Atletico Madrid over an £8million move to the Spanish capital, and that could be good news for Ian Maatsen at left-back.
Maatsen started in just 17 of his 45 total appearances last season with Digne starting 40 matches by comparison, and the Dutch international posted on Instagram as Villa’s pre-season continues.
In a post (22 July) liked by fellow Villa defender Ezri Konsa, Maatsen said: “Returned, Recharged and Ready”.
Maatsen to make up for lost time at Aston Villa
Football Insider Verdict
Maatsen returned later than most of his team-mates to pre-season at Villa after his exploits with the Oranje at the Under-21 Euros, but he’ll hope the speculation over Digne’s future plays into his favour.
Atletico Madrid are yet to advance on their interest in Digne as they also weigh up a move for Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, but signing the veteran Frenchman remains a significant possibility this summer.
Age is also on Maatsen‘s side as Digne’s junior by nine years, but it remains to be seen if he’ll do enough to gain Emery’s full trust as a starter over the course of Villa’s packed pre-season schedule and the early stages of next season.