It will be ‘difficult’ for Chelsea to recoup their full £70m asking price for reported Liverpool target Mason Mount.
Chelsea have reportedly slapped the rather ambitious figure on Mount, who will have just one year left on his contract this summer. But according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, they’ll do well to get as much.
“I think it’s going to be difficult to get £70m for Mason Mount,” he wrote in his daily column for CaughtOffiside.
“At the moment, Chelsea and Mount have still a small chance to continue together with a final round of talks in the next months… but if there will be no agreement again, Mount will be available on the market.
“Liverpool remain interested, as said many times; and for sure Chelsea will try to sign a new midfielder in the summer.”
Boehly forced to climb down on Mount valuation
At this point you really have to question whether Chelsea owner Todd Boehly understands the transfer market at all. After blowing such a huge amount in his short time at the club so far, he doesn’t appear to have fully grasped its concept.
To ask for £70m for an underperforming player with a year left on his deal is simply absurd. There may have been a point in his career where Mount was worth that amount, but he certainly isn’t now.
If he were, you can bet that Liverpool would be nowhere near him this summer. As it is, the Reds clearly think they have a chance at getting a bargain.
Quite what figure Liverpool have in mind is hard to say. There have been other suggestions that Chelsea would expect something around £50m to sell Mount. But in truth, even that seems high.
Then again, he still has his best years ahead of him and clearly has a lot going for him besides. This is a player who Joe Cole called ‘unbelievable’ not all that long ago. Perhaps somewhere in the region of £40-£45m is what the Reds will feel is fair.
That Chelsea will agree with them seems unlikely right now. But if Mount continues to resist new offers, then Boehly is simply going to have to face the reality. Accept a lower offer, or face losing him for nothing in 2024. It’s up to you, Todd.