Chelsea appear to be holding out for as much as they can get from Manchester United for Mason Mount this summer. The 24-year-old midfielder faces an increasingly uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, with his contract expiring at the end of next season.
The Blues were once close to reaching an agreement with Mount over a new deal, football.london understands, but, following his return from the World Cup in December, an offer was no longer on the table. Then, in the new year, Chelsea reopened talks with the England international, though he didn't want to sign a one-year extension.
It's believed that Mount has not yet received an improved proposal since, meaning that he'll become a free agent in just over 12 months. football.london understands that Liverpool and Arsenal are both seriously interested in signing the Cobham graduate, however it's the Red Devils who are leading the race for his signature.
United are said to have already had two bids rejected by the west Londoners for Mount. And, now, according to widespread reports from the likes of The Athletic, Fabrizio Romano and the Telegraph, Erik ten Hag's side have just have a third offer worth £55million, of which £5million are add-ons, turned down.
The reports state that Chelsea have countered their bid with a proposal of £58million plus £7million in add-ons. As the battle for Mount continues, widespread reports add that the Blues have also offered to meet United higher-ups to find a resolution to the saga.
Last month, Frank Lampard forecast the midfielder's departure after claiming that he doesn't know how Chelsea plan on holding onto the want-away star. Speaking to, Sky Sports, the former Blues caretaker manager said: "I think that’s a difficult situation because from working with Mason - and not just Mason, other players when I was here before - they have either gone on to be really important players for the club that have a real relationship with the fans because they really feel the club, having been in the academy since eight years of age, and some of them have gone on to other clubs and the club have done well out of that and you wish them well in their careers.
"I think with Mason particularly as an individual, I don’t know what the solution is going to be because it’s the club and Mason’s issue. I don’t know where exactly Mason is at personally, he’s got a year left on his contract."
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I know he’s held in high regard at the club and I know the club are trying to do what they can to make him stay, but I also think that Mason, I’d never want to stand here in the modern day and talk about what a player should do because they’ll see it all from their own eyes.
"I think in the old days it would be why are you leaving the club? In the modern day it’s you should move on, and we’ve got into this situation that is happening now."
Who should Chelsea keep or sell this summer...?
