Chelsea appear to be laying the groundwork for Mason Mount's exit, with the 24-year-old yet to make a decision on his future. He faces an increasingly uncertain future at Stamford Bridge having recently entered the final 18 months of his contract.
One of the priorities for Todd Boehly following the takeover last year was to tie Mount down to a long-term deal, football.london understands. But negotiations have proven difficult thus far and he has even reportedly appointed a new agent, Neil Fewings, to help smooth out proceedings.
The midfielder is far from one of the top earners at Chelsea despite being a seasoned England international. If the two parties cannot reach an agreement over a new deal, then he'll leave the west London outfit for free in June 2024.
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In the meantime, Mount could be available for a cut-price fee — and, a number of top clubs are monitoring his situation. football.london understands that Liverpool are long-term admirers of the Englishman, while both Manchester City and Manchester United are said to be watching from the sidelines.
With Mount facing an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, the Blues appear to have wasted no time in finding his replacement. According to the Mirror, as quoted by the Express, Chelsea are considering a move for Brahim Diaz in the summer.
The report states that the 23-year-old could cost as little as £25million despite his impressive performances on loan at AC Milan this season. Diaz, who is set to return to Real Madrid in the summer, has featured 31 times for the Italian giants this season, directly contributing towards seven goals.
The Spaniard has been on loan to the Rossoneri since September 2020 and played a huge role in winning the Scudetto last term. The Express outlines that Milan hold the option to make Diaz's stay permanent at the end of the season for £19million, but Los Blancos reportedly keen to recoup the £23.5million they paid City in 2019.
Diaz is one of the brightest prospects to have earned his stripes at City in recent years, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden. He has been predominantly used as a No.10 and occasionally placed on the right-wing.
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