Chelsea interim boss Frank Lampard cannot be confident that Mason Mount will stay at the club beyond the summer amid growing links with Manchester United.
The 24-year-old has a year left on his Chelsea contract and could exit in the coming months as the Blues offload players to try and stay within Financial Fair Play Rules following their mammoth spend across the previous two transfer windows.
United are one of many Premier League clubs linked with a potential move for the England star. Erik ten Hag is eager to bring in a young midfielder this summer to bolster his central options.
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Ten Hag will not be able to witness Mount up close in Thursday’s clash against Chelsea, with the playmaker currently out injured with a groin issue. Lampard was asked about Mount’s future in the build-up to his side’s trip to Old Trafford.
“It's a hard one for me to comment on because I'm not inside Mason's head and from the club's point of view my role is clearly what it is,” he told reporters. “In the practical sense it's completely between both sides on that front.
“I'm not surprised because this is football. Does everyone know that I really like Mason Mount as a lad and as a football player? Yes, sure, of course they do.
“I wish him the best personally and sitting here with my Chelsea top on now, I've seen what Mason has delivered at this club. But we'll see... of course in an ideal world those players stay with the club, but again in modern football it isn't always that clear.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea will also be without Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Benoi Badiashile for the match versus United although welcome back Joao Felix after a small knock prevented him from featuring against Manchester City on Sunday.
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