Liverpool remain behind Manchester United in the race to sign Mason Mount despite doing more groundwork, according to football.london.
The Reds have been monitoring the progression of the Chelsea midfielder for a number of months as the England internationals future has been up in the air. Talks were put on hold before the winter World Cup in Qatar in November and the report has revealed that the 24-year-old and his entourage thought they were close to penning new terms at that point after overcoming an image rights obstacle.
Following Argentina's success in the Middle East, Premier League football resumed but there was a change afoot at Stamford Bridge as Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali stepped back from day-to-day proceedings and were subsequently replaced by Paul Winstanley, Joe Shields and Christopher Vivell.
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The resumption of the English top-flight then saw the offer for Mount off the table, football.london have reported. With the negotiations seemingly 'dead' until the end of the January transfer window saw the Londoners try to extend Mount's time in west London with a salary increase but the Three Lions midfielder was deterred by the prospect of a one-year deal.
With 12 months remaining on his current deal, Boehly held a personal meeting with Mount to discuss his future and check in with the Cobham academy graduate but there is no contract offer has been tabled since the initial one-year extension was offered.
United and Arsenal are among the competitors for Jurgen Klopp's target. Erik ten Hag's side are now frontrunners despite the Reds putting the framework in place to accelerate a move.
Julian Nagelsmann was the early leader to succeed Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge before talks with former Tottenham Hotspur boss, Mauricio Pochettino, began. Both tacticians are said to have had Mount in their plans with the Argentine now confirmed as the new boss.
Agent Neil Fewings was introduced to help improve negotiations with the Chelsea midfielder intent on staying in the capital but there has yet to be a breakthrough.
The Londoners run the risk of losing him on a free transfer next summer which could see them cash-in this summer as they look to balance the books following a busy two transfer windows. The 24-year-old is said to have looked emotional as he wandered around the hallowed SW6 turf on what could've been his final steps as a Chelsea player.
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