Manchester United have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign midfielder Mason Mount.
The 24-year-old England midfielder will head to Old Trafford on a five year deal for a fee of £55 million, with the potential to rise to £60 million in add ons. The Blues have given Mount permission to undergo a medical at Old Trafford and finalise personal terms.
It seemed that negotiations has stalled this month after United had three separate bids rejected. Indeed, manager Erik ten Hag was reported to be turning his attention to other targets having grown frustrated with Chelsea's insistence they would only accept £58 million - plus a further £7 million in add ons.
But the two Premier League clubs have finally settled on a compromise. It means the Red Devils are set to secure their first signing of the summer, in what has been billed as a huge transfer window for the club.
And with Mauricio Pochettino in the midst of his own overhaul at Stamford Bridge, a deal ultimately suited both parties after Mount revealed he did not intend to extend his current contract. That deal runs out in 2024, meaning the Blues would have risked losing him for free in 12 months' time.
Mount, who was part of England's squad for the World Cup in Qatar before losing his place for the recent Euro 2024 qualifiers, came though the Chelsea academy and will leave having spent 18 years at the London club. He made 195 senior appearances, scoring 33 goals.
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And there were many Chelsea fans unhappy with the apparent fall out between him and the club, with Mount having been pivotal to their 2020/21 Champions League win. But following the departure of Thomas Tuchel, he failed to hold down a regular spot this season under Graham Potter and then interim boss Frank Lampard.
Ten Hag has been determined to add to his midfield unit with both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen north of 30-years-old. The Dane's 2022/23 season was also hampered by injury, and he struggled to make an impact after returning in the latter stages of the campaign.
The Dutch manager's focus will now turn to signing a big name striker for Mount and co to supply. The club have been linked to their new star's international teammate Harry Kane, and would have been alerted to Bayern Munich's move for Tottenham's record scorer this week.
