Liverpool could explore a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount in the summer, according to GOAL journalist Neil Jones.
Speaking on The Redmen TV, the reporter suggested that the Blues could look to cash-in on the 24-year-old. This could be necessary as they need to balance their books, having welcomed numerous signings to Stamford Bridge in January.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Jones said. “I mean, I think you’re right. There’s no way Chelsea’s gonna let him run his contract down. You know, you look at what they’ve spent and you look at the way they’ve done it, they are going to need to sell some players for good money and they’ve got assets.
“Lukaku’s still out on loan at the moment, they’ll obviously try and sell him. I think Ziyech’s going to get sold. Pulisic, I think will be sold. They’ve got Hudson-Odoi out on loan. Conor Gallagher. Aubameyang’s gonna leave and get off the wage bill, probably not sold – probably gonna let him go. I wouldn’t be amazed if they cashed in on Koulibaly, who’s not really worked out.
“Having a home-grown player who’s costing nothing, he’s not on massive wages by all accounts – I think it’s under £100,000-a-week I think – but he’s not one of the big earners at the club. That’s what he wants to be wants to be, he wants to be one of the top earners.
“So, the outlay Chelsea have put into this player isn’t huge. They could potentially cash-in, £40m/£50m I think. England international who’s won the Champions League and has been a big part of the club. It would be appealing if he hasn’t agreed a new contract.
“There was a link this morning or yesterday I think that they were asking to be kept abreast of the Bellingham situation. I don’t think that does much for Mason Mount’s chances if Chelsea were looking at signing him.
“But yeah, I think I think we will hear a lot more about this. I think it was expected previously that he would get the new contract, we’re talking about a 7/8-year contract at the club and really making him the symbol of the new Chelsea and that looks like it’s gone awry.
“I think one to keep an eye on definitely. I imagine Oxlade-Chamberlain’s on decent money, Keita obviously in that position. You’re losing those wages in amongst that. But if he’s the player you want, when you move clubs, you tend to have to pay more in terms of wages than maybe a club that was gonna keep the player would pay.
“By all accounts, I think it’s £75,000-a-week. It doesn’t have to be, if Liverpool want to double his wages, that makes him a decent high earner – it doesn’t make him a structure-busting earner at Liverpool. So, they can still sort of give him a very tempting offer and a very good salary without going to Mo Salah territory.”
Liverpool could explore move for Mount
As demonstrated regularly this season, Liverpool need to bring in midfield additions to Anfield over the summer.
As it stands, the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita and James Milner are set to depart the club upon the expiry of their contracts at the end of the campaign. Furthermore, Arthur will almost certainly return to Juventus after his season-long loan comes to an end.
Even with these players currently in the squad, Jurgen Klopp has been short in the middle of the park. Injuries have plagued certain players, and others have been decimated by poor form.
Consequently, a player like Mount – an experienced Premier League professional – could be of upmost use to the Reds.
Former Chelsea player Jason Cundy once told TalkSPORT that he’d pick the 24-year-old over Neymar for England, because “Neymar won’t do what Mount does, he won’t do the dirty work.”
The dirty work is what Klopp needs doing in midfield, and Three Lions teammate Declan Rice has claimed Mount is ‘incredible’ at it.
Therefore, if he is available on a cut-price deal, there’s a possibility Liverpool could try to sign him this summer.