According to The Athletic, Ian Maatsen is a candidate to be sold by Aston Villa this summer. The club wants to attract a new left-back and is willing to sell either Maatsen or Lucas Digne. Unai Emery wants to add a left-back of a different type to his selection as, in his view, Maatsen and Digne are too similar. One of the two must be sold first.

Ian Maatsen was the subject of serious interest from numerous clubs in the summer transfer window before joining Aston Villa. Despite being the club's third most expensive signing ever with a market value of €40 million, he has played just 144 minutes of league football this season.

The plan to buy Ian Maatsen has failed.