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Erik ten Hag wants Mason Mount at Old Trafford. The Dutch manager has seen his development as a player in the Eredivisie, where he was at hand to defeat his Ajax side in Vitesse colours.
Chelsea does not want to give him the contract he is asking for and wants him to settle for a less expensive offer. It has given the Red Devils the rare opportunity of adding one of the best English players to their roster.
The Cobham graduate is out of contract next summer and is willing to listen to offers after talks broke down with the Blues. United are leaving no stones unturned and has pounced at the opportunity, with Luke Shaw admitting he was tapping the midfield starlet for future adventures at Old Trafford.
Chelsea have rejected Manchester Utd second, official bid for Mason Mount. It was sent today and rejected after few hours. 🚨🔴 #MUFC
Proposal was worth £50m as called by @David_Ornstein — Chelsea always wanted more.
Man United will not pay ‘crazy’ fee but talks will continue. pic.twitter.com/yvvQlT9Vjv
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2023
Valuing Mason Mount
It was earlier rumoured that United were pondering a £30 million bid for the English international. David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano have revealed that the opening bid was £50 million and was rejected after only a few hours.
Despite the prospect of losing Mount for free, Chelsea value their youth academy graduate highly. At the end of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, it was rumoured that a protracted £80 million fee would have been sufficient to lure him away from Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool were leading the charge for his serves with the midfielder high on Jurgen Klopp’s wishlist. With United entering the fold, it looks unlikely that the Blues will allow him to leave on the cheap. In his article for the Athletic, Ornstein revealed that Chelsea are willing to accept £60 million plus £5 million add-ons.
🚨 EXCL: Manchester United have today made an improved bid for Mason Mount. Proposal £45 + £5m add-ons. Chelsea countered with £60 + £5m. #MUFC have a limit, while #CFC are trying to comply with 24yo’s wishes. No agreement but getting closer @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/mkyH8rtm5O
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 21, 2023
These are early days in the transfer window, Chelsea are holding out on a transfer fee closer to their valuation. With an official bid yet to arrive from Liverpool, the bidding war can net them their asking price.
Mason Mount’s Key Attributes
Frank Lampard brought Mount into the first-team fold and the midfielder excelled in his tutelage. When the Chelsea legend left, he had established himself as a key player for the Blues and lifted the Champions League trophy under Thomas Tuchel.
The 24-year-old struggled in Todd Boehly’s disastrous first year of ownership, with the team’s results echoing his return. However, it does not take away from the fact that he was a mainstay under Lampard and Tuchel, and Ten Haag and Klopp want him in their ranks.
Like Enzo Fernandez, Mount is a dynamic midfielder. His tenacity, work rate, and defensive contributions make him valuable in deeper roles. Moreover, he is known for his exceptional vision, technical ability, and intelligent off-the-ball movements. He excels at finding pockets of space, creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.
He can dictate the tempo of play and contributes heavily to attacking build-up. Like his mentor Lampard, he can dribble into space and makes forward runs that make him a constant goal-scoring threat. One of Mount’s lesser heralded attributes is his dead ball abilities, which makes him an all-around nuisance for rivals.
The Portsmouth native is a complete package, adding value in different roles and giving his team the flexibility to change approach on the fly. This is why Ten Haag and Klopp want him, and this is why Chelsea is willing to hold out for £80 million despite one year remaining on his contract.
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