Manchester United will offer club captain Harry Maguire to Chelsea in a swap deal for Mason Mount as the Red Devils push for a transfer.
Mount is not currently one of the top 20 paid players at Stamford Bridge and with multiple attacking arrivals at the West London club across the past two transfer windows, his future has come into question.
Mount is aware that Chelsea want to sell him this summer and he has expressed a preference for joining United in that instance. Like Tottenham striker Harry Kane, he is also out of contract in the summer of 2024 and as such is likely to be available at a reduced price this summer with a £55million offer thought to be a proposal.
However, the Blues are believed to value Mount’s transfer fee at closer to £70million and such a discrepancy in valuation could scupper any deal entirely. A report in the Sun suggests this is where Maguire comes into the equation.
United boss Erik ten Hag said Maguire, who is fifth choice central defender at the club “has a decision to make” in terms of his future. New Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino tried to sign Maguire at Tottenham when the defender was at Hull.
However, the Blues are coming down with central defenders of their own including Levi Colwill – returning from a loan stint at Brighton. Thiago Silva, Kalidou Koulibaly, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah are all options in that position.
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Ten Hag explained the difficulties of signing English players following his appointment. "I would like to sign English players because I think there is only one criteria and that's quality in combination with the price," Ten Hag explained last summer. "It looks like English players are quite expensive. It's a fact you cannot deny. In the end, it's about quality."
The approach to this summer’s transfer window may be different with United appearing to be focus on more ready-made Premier League players and commit larger transfer fees. It comes as the club have secured Champions League football for next season.
A host of players are also set to exit Old Trafford; Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe are both leaving as free agents with Maguire, Anthony Martial, Alex Telles, Eric Bailly and Brandon Williams among those likely to depart this summer.
