Man Utd have reportedly made enquiries about signing Aston Villa defender Ian Maatsen.
The Red Devils are still hoping to reinforce the left hand side of defence before the transfer window closes, and the Dutchman is the latest name to enter the mix.
Supporters on X are split on whether Maatsen would be a good addition to the squad, with some rating him, while others feel he would be a panic buy:
Get it done l! He is class!
— Искрен Спасов (@iskren_spa) August 29, 2026
This club is just a total joke
— Sydney (@nealsydney_) August 29, 2026
Really good this one like it a lot
— Jay (@Jay_5724) August 29, 2026
I knew this would happen scrapping the bottom of the barrel buys nows
— RatedRodzGaming (@RatedRG2020) August 29, 2026
Make it happen
— Frankie Cini MUFC 🇾🇪🔴⚪⚫ (@CiniFrank11) August 29, 2026
Just play Amass if this is the best we can think of
— Davin Lynch (@davolyncho) August 29, 2026
Maatsen started just 17 league matches last season
Villa paid £37.5m to sign the 24-year-old from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, but he has not been able to establish himself as a regular starter due to the presence of Lucas Digne.
Maatsen started only 17 Premier League games during the 2025/26 campaign, and he was not selected in the starting lineup for the Europa League final back in May. Manager Unai Emery sent him on for the final 10 minutes against Freiburg.
Digne’s subsequent departure for Paris Saint-Germain has given Maatsen an opportunity to cement his place as first-choice left-back, so you do wonder whether Villa would be open to selling him now anyway, despite not always been in favour over the last two years.
Man Utd have looked at several left-backs
Maatsen is just one of many targets under consideration to provide competition for Luke Shaw. Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde is a player that United would like to sign, but it is believed that the Red Devils would prefer a loan deal for the Spaniard.
Racing Santander’s Jorge Salinas and RB Leipzig’s David Raum have also reportedly been offered to the club, but it doesn’t appear that bids will be table for either option at this stage.
As for Maatsen, we would take this report with a large pinch of salt until a more reliable source confirms the story.