Rio Ferdinand has rubbished claims that Manchester United are overpaying for Mason Mount and used Kai Havertz's move to Arsenal to defend his former club's business.
Chelsea midfielder Mount is set to officially sign for United this week, having undergone a medical at the club's Carrington training base on Monday ahead of his £55million transfer. Mount's price has been the subject of criticism from fans and pundits, particularly given that the England international, 24, only has one year left on his Chelsea contract.
Ferdinand, however, disagrees with the scrutiny and when it was suggested to him on his FIVE YouTube show that Arsenal's £65m acquisition of Havertz - who's the same age and played a similar attack-minded role at Chelsea - represented better value for the money, the ex-United defender scoffed. "Kai Havertz didn't do the numbers that we're talking about," an impassioned Ferdinand declared, referencing Mount's best campaigns.
"Kai Havertz has been bought based on last season, his numbers weren't top, they weren't great. If you've got the numbers Mason Mount had from the time Chelsea won the Champions League, and the season after, what would his valuation be? If you put it in that context, you can't say that Mount is going to go for below Havertz. You're smoking bro, no chance."
From that, it's safe to assume that the former Red Devils centre-back rates Mount highly, and he confirmed as much earlier in the show. "I think Mason Mount is a very good signing," Ferdinand stated. "He'll be a valuable member of the squad. He's a good player, a top player, I love the way he plays football.
"Every manager he has had - as a guide - has been nothing but positive about him, has loved having him, has been integral to everything that they've done. He had injuries last season so he tailed off a little bit in terms of numbers but the two seasons he did well at Chelsea they won the Champions League in one of them.
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"Goals, assists, chances created, runs from deep into the box, always a goal threat, impacts games, decisive player, has to play. When he gets back to that... Last season I'd write off - more injuries than anything, loss of confidence maybe - but if you get the Mason Mount over them couple of years at Chelsea, you get that in a red shirt, delightful."
Nevertheless, midfield isn't a priority position for manager Erik ten Hag this summer. A new striker such as Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen is who United have been after over the past few months and now their goalkeeping situation has become its own saga thanks to the uncertain future of David de Gea.
Ferdinand argues that the reason why Red Devils supporters largely aren't ecstatic about Mount's arrival is because of the aforementioned other issues which Ten Hag faces. "The reason the fanbase isn't going crazy for Mason Mount is because they all know that the priority in this window is a number nine, that's the only reason," he explained.
"They all know he's a good player, they all know he's going to be a valuable member of this squad, and they're all delighted to get him through the door. But Man United's priority is a number nine."
