In a significant development in the transfer market, Manchester United's pursuit of Chelsea's Mason Mount is heating up. Chelsea's refusal to meet Mount's demands for new terms has opened the door for the Red Devils, who are now leading the race for his signature.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who only has a year left on his contract, is likely to leave Stamford Bridge as the club looks to boost its finances through player sales.
United, managed by Erik ten Hag, have already made two bids for Mount - a £40 million initial offer that was instantly rejected and a second improved bid of £50 million that also failed to impress Chelsea1. However, insiders suggest that a deal may be close, with Chelsea dropping their asking price and countering United's latest bid with a request for a £60 million fee upfront, plus £5 million in add-ons.
Mount has been a key figure at Chelsea since his first-team debut in 2017. Despite struggling with a pelvic injury towards the end of the 2022-23 season, he made 195 appearances for the club, netting 33 goals2. Notably, he's been significantly underpaid for the last three years, earning less than £100,000 per week, which is lower than many of his teammates.
Mount's departure would mark a significant change for Chelsea, who has seen him emerge as a critical player in their Champions League triumph of 2021 and be voted Chelsea's player of the year twice.
In other news, Manchester City is reportedly preparing an offer for West Ham's Declan Rice after losing Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona. Arsenal, which has seen two bids for Rice rejected, may lose out on their top midfield target as City swoops in with an expected opening offer.
Reports suggest that Rice is open to a move, despite being initially interested in staying in London and favoring Arsenal as his first choice. However, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggests that a deal now depends on the clubs.
