Manchester United are ready to make an improved bid of £50million for Chelsea and England midfielder Mason Mount.
United had a £40m bid for Mount rejected by Chelsea earlier this week, but are set to return with a bigger offer for the 24-year-old attacker. Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag identified Mount as a player who can give United a different dimension in attack, with his ability to play in a variety of positions across the front line.
Chelsea value Mount at £70m, but with the player about to enter the final year of his contract, United feel their valuation of £50m is far more realistic. United's latest offer is likely to be their last, with the pressure now on Chelsea to either accept or risk Mount entering the final year of his contract and potentially leaving for nothing next summer.
With Chelsea having spent more than £600m in the last two transfer windows and needing to sell to comply with Financial Fair Play rules, United hope their latest offer for Mount will be accepted. A new striker remains Ten Hag's priority in this summer's transfer window, with Anthony Martial set to be offloaded and Wout Weghorst returning to Burnley following his loan spell.
But Mount's ability to operate in different positions, his age and relatively low fee, given his contractual situation, has made him an attractive option for Ten Hag and United.
United having cooled their interest in England captain Harry Kane, because of Tottenham's £100m valuation and reluctance to sell to a Premier League rival - they are now set to step up their pursuit of Napoli's £80m-rated forward Victor Osimhen. Mason Greenwood has been included on United's retained list of players for the new season - despite remaining suspended.
Greenwood was suspended after he was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped those charges in February, after key witnesses withdrew their involvement.
Despite that, Greenwood, 21, remains suspended, pending the outcome of an internal investigation by the club. Greenwood has been included on the retain list throughout the past 18 months, following his initial arrest in January 2022, because he remains under contract.
United say the decision to include him on the list does not give any hint as to the outcome of the ongoing internal disciplinary process. Goalkeeper David De Gea, out of contract on June 30, is not on the list, although United said “discussions remain open with David over a potential new contract”.
