Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly has been told that any decision to sell Mason Mount this summer would be a 'disgrace', with Manchester United reportedly close to a move for the England star.
United are thought to be edging closer to sealing a deal to sign the 24-year-old, with Arsenal and Liverpool set to miss out after their reported interest in the midfielder. Chelsea's asking price for the star is believed to be in the region of £55 million, with the home-grown star's contract set to expire next summer.
Chelsea need to recoup transfer fees this summer, with their £600 million spending spree last season failing to yield Champions League qualification. This leaves big names such as Mount, and fellow midfielder Mateo Kovacic, among those who could be sold with their contracts expiring next summer.
However, Chelsea's decision to sell the academy product has been slammed, with Mount having progressed into the first team in recent years alongside Reece James. TalkSPORT pundit and former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara has slammed the decision, saying that Mount should not have to leave the club due to 'average' signings made by Boehly.
He said on The Sports Bar: "That for me is a disgrace, because what they're doing is downgrading Mason Mount, who's a top player, a home-grown player who has been at the club since [six] years of age and loves the football club.
"Because this Boehly's come in and spent £600 million on bang average players, they've now got to balance the books and you're downgrading for Mudryk, who has cost you £70million and has been garbage." He continued. "That, for me just shows how he's not meant to run a football club."
Mount has been part of Chelsea's success in recent years, with his assist for Kai Havertz's winning goal in 2021's Champions League final a particular highlight. He also scored crucial goals that season, including in the semi-final against Real Madrid to become a popular figure among the fans at Stamford Bridge.
This campaign has seen Mount unable to replicate his previous form, with a poor start to the season under Thomas Tuchel before picking up his form under Graham Potter. But he required surgery on a pelvic injury in April which ruled him out of the remainder of the campaign.
The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino is the start of a new era for Chelsea, with their third managerial appointment in 12 months. He is believed to be making key decisions before starting work as manager, with big choices to make as up to ten players are set to be cut from his squad.
