Manchester United have reportedly opened talks to sign Mason Mount, with the Chelsea midfielder subject to interest from multiple Premier League clubs this summer.
The Daily Mail report that United have opened talks in order to secure the transfer of the 24-year-old. The Red Devils are expected to pursue a deal in the region of £55million, although Chelsea expected to push for a fee closer to £85m for a player whose contract expires next summer.
Mount is a man in demand, with both Arsenal and Liverpool also expected to move for him. The England international is currently recovering from surgery, with an abdominal problem ruling him out for the season and potentially spelling the end of his Chelsea career.
Mount is reported to have rejected offers of a new contract this season, with a final offer said to have been proposed last month in a bid to keep the Blues academy product at Stamford Bridge. Following a £600m spending spree this season, Chelsea need to recoup transfer fees in order to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules as they could risk losing Mount for free next summer.
Incoming Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is believed to be an admirer of Mount, with the young midfielder's ability to play a number of roles within a team providing tactical flexibility. Mount's pressing game is also admired, with his work rate proving popular with coaches both at club and international level.
However, Chelsea's lack of European football next season could lead to the star looking elsewhere. Arsenal could reunite Mount with childhood friend and England teammate, Declan Rice, with their growing contingent of young English talent expected to perform well over the next few years under Mikel Arteta.
Liverpool could also provide an appealing option for Mount given their pressing style of play but they look likely to sign Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister for £70 million and it is unclear whether they will have the funds to sign both players.
This could leave United in pole position, with Erik ten Hag able to offer Champions League football and potentially having vast transfer funds following the club's imminent takeover. Ten Hag's also favours pressing tactics which would complement Mount's talents.
Mount's England performances also helped the Three Lions to the European Championships final in 2021 as he linked up with fellow United target Harry Kane. Kane is also wanted at Old Trafford this summer in what could be a marquee signing for the club's new owners.
Mount is a popular player at Chelsea, with Frank Lampard having worked with him once at Derby before bringing him into the first-team fold during his first stint at Stamford Bridge. His assist for Kai Havertz's winning goal in the Champions League final in 2021 remains his biggest contribution to the club.
Speaking last month, Lampard refused to confirm whether or not Mount had played his last game for the club. He said: "I don’t know the answer to that, it’s a conversation between Mason and the club, so I don’t know. It’s not final at this point and we’ll have to see because those conversations are ongoing.
"It’s a shame for me personally because I think everyone knows how I feel about working with Mason and I like to think he feels the same about me, and we could have done with him in the games we’ve played already this season.
"But the bigger picture is something that’s going to become clearer in the next weeks and months, and that will be the club and Mason together having conversations."
