Chelsea and Mason Mount are yet to agree on a new contract. The midfield sees his current deal expire in 18 months and talks over an extension have hit a stumbling block since before the World Cup.
The Cobham academy graduate has been a regular member at Stamford Bridge since breaking into the first-team in 2019, making 192 appearances and contributing to 70 goals. However, this season, Mount has struggled to hit the same consistent levels previously reached.
Todd Boehly's heavy spending in the last two transfer windows - which has seen £600 million splashed out on new signings - has placed Mount's future at the club into further doubt amid talk of a new deal.
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Negotiations were set for November and January but are now not due to take place until the summer. It's said that an agreement on the player's wage is a major stumbling block in negotiations between the two parties - a situation Graham Potter called 'complicated'.
Mount, understandably, has a list of potential suitors ready to take advantage of the talks stalling. Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are all said to be keeping tabs on the midfielder, despite reports that Chelsea remain confident they have the situation under control.
According to The Guardian, Man United have added Mount to a list of attacking midfield targets ahead of the summer and it is reported that he could be available for £50m. The report claims Boehly and Clearlake Capital are keen to avoid the possible uncertainty created by allowing player's contract to enter the final year.
Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen left the club at the end of last season after the previous regime allowed their contracts to expire. The pair have since impressed with Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
However, as talks continue to cause speculation, Boehly faces a major decision to make over Mount's future at the club. He either accepts the 24-year-old's contract demands or allows him to seek new pastures elsewhere.
With all the clubs keen on his services, letting him go could come back to bite Chelsea just like it did to AC Milan back in 2011. The Italian giants allowed Andrea Pirlo's contract at San Siro expire after ten years at the club - where he won two Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues and the Coppa Italia.
Pirlo, like Mount, was linked with a move to some of Europe's biggest clubs during the final months of his time with Milan and eventually signed for league rivals Juventus. And despite joining at 32, Pirlo helped The Old Lady to four Serie A title wins, the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana and the Champions League final in 2015.
The veteran's exit was the start of Milan's demise in Italy, with them going 11 years before winning the Scudetto. They finished second in their first season without the midfielder before registering finishes in tenth, seventh, sixth and eighth.
There's certainly history for Chelsea to be aware of when allowing key players to leave on a free transfer. Robert Lewandoswki's free transfer move to Barcelona from Bayern Munich has guided the Spanish giants close to their first La Liga title since 2019.
It's said that Chelsea's latest offer is around £180k-a-week. But Mount wants the club to show they value him after Reece James signed a new deal worth £250k-a-week earlier this season.
Boehly and Chelsea have until the end of season to decide what they feel is best in Mount's situation. If they opt to cut ties, they could consider cashing in on him in the summer to ensure they don't allow the academy graduate to leave on a free.
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