Jamie Carragher has questioned the timing of a report suggesting Mason Mount is edging closer to joining Manchester United.
It emerged earlier this week United had agreed personal terms with the Chelsea midfielder, who has also been linked with Liverpool in recent months as a potential midfield option. Such links have now quietened, with the Red Devils now leading the chase for his signature.
A fresh update from the Guardian on the matter has made clear United are now in direct talks with Chelsea over a transfer fee for the England international, with the Londoners searching for an optimistic bid of £70m.
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This latest development in the Mount saga has arrived in the hours before the FA Cup final between Manchester City and United - a game the former are strong favourites to win. Of the view that this report has rather purposefully been released to lift the moods of downbeat United fans, Carragher tweeted: "Clubs normally feed information about a potential signing after a defeat to lift their supporters & change the narrative. Man United have fed the Mason Mount deal before the Cup Final, are their supporters that fearful & negative about today?!!"
Erik ten Hag's side will be attempting to put a halt to their noisy neighbours' bid for a treble, which can be completed should they win this afternoon and in next weekend's Champions League final versus Inter Milan. City came out on top 6-3 when the sides met at the Etihad in October, though Pep Guardiola's men fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in January.
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