Chelsea have reopened talks with Mason Mount in a bid to fend off transfer interest and extend the academy graduate's stay at Stamford Bridge.
A host of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester United, have been credited with an interest in the highly-rated midfielder's services amid his contract stand-off with the Blues.
And despite reports claiming that the Londoners could decide to cash in on the England star in the summer after hitting a stalemate in contract negotiations, Blues co-owner Todd Boehly has initiated fresh talks with Mount, 24, to try and strike a resolution that will keep the popular midfielder in the capital.
According to The Evening Standard, Boehly is leading discussions with Mount's representatives to try and thrash out a new contract after previous talks hit an impasse. Mount, whose current deal runs until the summer of 2024, wants parity with Reece James, who penned a deal worth £250,000-a-week earlier this year. However, Chelsea are reluctant to authorise such a deal - and there are other issues, too.
The report goes on to outline that other problems include the length of any new contract, image rights and other clauses which are deemed 'unfavourable' by Mount when compared to others.
Boehly, who initially attempted to tie Mount down to a long-term seven-year deal, is now attempting to persuade Mount to pen a one or two-year contract: a move which would put Chelsea in a favourable position ahead of the summer transfer window amid interest from several of their top-flight rivals.
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Liverpool have been strongly linked with Mount and are set to be active in the summer market. Jurgen Klopp is planning to perform extensive surgery on his midfield options and a cut-price deal for Mount would be regarded as a major coup for the Reds. Manchester United and Newcastle are also keeping an eye on Mount's situation and both will have cash to spend.
Chelsea have placed a £70million price tag on Mount's head in a bid to try and deter the midfielder's suitors; but there is an acceptance that such a figure would more than likely be talked down in negotiations given that he would be able to leave for nothing the following summer.
As well as leading talks with Mount, Boehly is also locked in discussions with Mauricio Pochettino with a view to appointing the former Tottenham manager as the Blues' new head coach.
Pochettino, 51, is now the frontrunner for the Stamford Bridge vacancy after holding positive talks with the club hierarchy. The Argentine coach has been out of work since leaving Paris Saint-Germain in July.
