Manchester United have made contact with Aston Villa to explore the availability of Dutch left-back Ian Maatsen, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The Red Devils are actively seeking to strengthen their left-back position ahead of a demanding fixture list that includes European football this season.
Manager Michael Carrick’s side have been monitoring several targets, with concerns over Luke Shaw’s ability to sustain a three-games-per-week workload driving the urgency.
United’s first-choice target Lewis Hall appears out of reach, with Newcastle unwilling to sell after already losing Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon this summer.
The club also explored a move for Alejandro Balde, reaching out to his representatives, but the Barcelona defender is keen to remain at the Catalan club.
Patrick Dorgu has increasingly been deployed as a winger rather than a full-back, leaving Shaw as United’s only recognised senior option on the left side of defence.
Maatsen, 24, joined Aston Villa from Chelsea for £37.5 million in the summer of 2024, going on to make 91 appearances and contributing to seven goals across all competitions.
The Dutchman featured heavily last season, making 44 appearances and logging more than 2,300 minutes, but his first-team certainty has been complicated by the recent arrival of Matteo Ruggeri.
Maatsen started Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton on August 23 but struggled during large spells of the match, which ended in a 4-0 defeat for Unai Emery’s side.
His desire to be the undisputed starter at left-back following Lucas Digne’s departure to PSG may be tested further now that Ruggeri is competing for the same position.
Maatsen is considered one of the fastest full-backs in the Premier League, and his pace-driven profile could address a recognised weakness at the back for Carrick’s squad.
Whether United are pursuing a loan deal or a permanent transfer remains unclear, as does Villa’s willingness to sanction any departure before the window closes.
Villa, however, appear reluctant to sell, with reports indicating the club do not want to lose the Netherlands international and are instead preparing to offer him a new contract.
“There was no contact between the clubs but Villa do not want to sell Maatsen, who started the season opener against Brighton, and he is expected to be offered new terms soon,” the report states.
Maatsen is currently contracted at Villa Park until 2030, meaning any new deal would serve to reinforce his standing within Emery’s squad rather than address an immediate contractual concern.