Mason Mount has reportedly emerged as a surprise transfer target for Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s arrival at Old Trafford.
The Sun have reported that Ten Hag has been keeping a close eye on the Chelsea midfielder and is considering a move this summer. That the new United boss would be a fan of Mount is unsurprising – he contributed 13 goals and 16 assists in 53 appearances this season – but the idea he would leave Chelsea is a more contentious idea.
Mount has been with Chelsea for his entire career and has emerged as a consistent performer for Thomas Tuchel’s side. His efforts for Chelsea have seen him become a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England squads. Would he trade his current situation for a move to Manchester United? Mirror Football doesn’t think so – and here are five reasons why.
Chelsea fan
Mount is 23 years old. He’s been at Chelsea since the age of six. While those sorts of connections may mean less in the modern game, they are still significant. Although he grew up in Portsmouth – and used to attend Pompey games – Mount is a Chelsea fan at heart.
He first signed for Chelsea at under-9 level and came through every age group to finally break into the first team in 2019. After scoring his first goal, on his Stamford Bridge debut in a 1-1 draw with Leicester in August 2019, he reflected on what it meant to him.
“It’s what you dream of, coming through the academy and being at the club since the age of six, to start the game in front of all our home fans and score is amazing,” he said. “‘It feels a bit surreal, having been at the club for such a long time and now finally breaking into the first team. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and now there are fans with my name on the back of their shirts.” Three years later and that novelty is yet to wear off.
Key player
Mount is not just playing for the club he supports, he is playing a starring role. His 29 goal involvements this season put him head and shoulders above his team-mates. He outgunned Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner – who cost a combined £220million – and deservedly was voted player of the season by Chelsea fans for the second consecutive campaign.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder is undoubtedly one of the most important players in Tuchel’s squad. He is integral to the way Chelsea play in their usual 3-4-2-1 formation and rarely puts in a dud performance. Mount can be relied upon to deliver in the big games and is so often the driving force in cup finals and Champions League ties.
Tuchel’s support
Mount has featured 67 times for Chelsea since Tuchel arrived in January 2021, making him the most selected player by the German. He has the trust of his manager and Tuchel’s comments about the midfielder last month show the relationship between the pair.
“It is always a pleasure to work with Mason because he is the kind of guy who comes with a smile on his face to every single training session,” Tuchel said. “It is always 100 per cent in matches, he accepts every challenge and that is why it is so nice to work with him.”
He added: “He is full of quality and he has a blue heart. Mason loves the club, he loves Chelsea. That is how he plays and that is why he has our full support. He is always switched on and ready to push himself to the limit and that is the foundation as to why he gets our full support, because he deserves it.”
Team-mates love him
Unsurprisingly, Tuchel is far from the only person at Chelsea to love Mount. His attitude on the training pitch and consistency in matches means his team-mates are also big fans. The England international has close relationships with several members of the current squad, including Werner, Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Having fallen short on penalties in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup final to Liverpool this season, Mount is motivated to bounce back with his team-mates next season.
“I definitely think that there are exciting times ahead,” he said after picking up his player of the season award. “We don’t know too much what is going on behind the scenes but we are excited as players, we are absolutely buzzing for the next season. Hopefully we can keep progressing as a club.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Is there any chance Mason Mount could leave Chelsea this summer? Comment below.
New contract incoming
Chelsea’s takeover being completed is major news for the club. With Todd Boehly’s consortium at the helm, Chelsea are no longer constricted by government sanctions, meaning they can finally get to work in the summer transfer window – and offer new contracts.
United are not the only club interested in Mount. According to The Athletic , ‘three of the biggest clubs in England, plus others from abroad’ have been ‘putting plans in place’ to try to sign him this summer. Chelsea have already lost Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, while others are likely to jump ship too. They cannot afford to lose Mount.
Despite his performances and status at the club, Mount is currently one of the lowest-paid members of Chelsea’s senior squad, at around £80,000 per week. If they are to keep hold of him, that needs to change. Mount has two years left on his current deal, but Chelsea remain vulnerable. Getting him tied down to a new deal is a priority for director Marina Granovskaia. Expect movement on this front in the coming weeks. The i recently reported that Chelsea are willing to more than double his wages to keep him happy.
