Manchester United have begun talks to sign reported Liverpool target Mason Mount from Chelsea.
Mount has long been seen as a potential option for Liverpool this summer, as they look to upgrade their midfield. But now, according to The Daily Mail, United might be about to ‘steal a march’ on them.
They claim that Erik ten Hag is about to launch a £55m bid for Mount, with talks due to commence imminently.
Extraordinarily, Chelsea reportedly see the 24-year-old’s value as closer to £85m. Although that figure seems pretty much impossible to reach, United are said to be willing to go higher than their initial valuation of Mount. Ten Hag is reportedly ‘determined’ to sign the England man and has consequently installed him as a top target.
United aren’t the only ones interested, though. The Mail claim that as well as Liverpool ‘actively pursuing’ Mount, Arsenal are also monitoring him. Meanwhile, incoming Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is said to be a ‘huge admirer’ of Mount and would like him to stay and become a key player under his guidance.
Race heats up for Mount as Liverpool fall behind
The race for Mount – an England international yet to hit his prime – was always going to be a crowded one this summer. Liverpool should have prepared for this.
Up until now, the Reds have always been proclaimed as the favourites to land Mount should he leave Chelsea. But United’s proactivity might have just put an end to that.
A lot will likely rest on the eventual fee each party is willing to pay. For Chelsea, how much they are ready to pay their academy graduate to sign a new deal; for the others, what they’ll cough up for a transfer.
In a straight shootout like this, Liverpool don’t tend to end up on the winning side. Against United and Arsenal, you can’t imagine the Reds winning out in a bidding war.
And, to be honest, nor should they. £55m sounds relatively reasonable for Mount, but it must be remembered that he has just one year left on his contract. That should probably represent the very top end of what the England international can be sold for.
But, this being Todd Boehly’s Chelsea, transfer norms don’t seem to mean too much. To ask for £85m for a player who’s underperformed all season and has 12 months left on his contract is utterly ridiculous.
Then again, when you have a number of top clubs chasing your player, you do hold a fair few cards. Let’s see if this United move prompts Liverpool to speed up a plot of their own.
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