Erik ten Hag has handed Manchester United a four-player shortlist as alternatives to signing Mason Mount after the club were unsuccessful in their third bid for the Chelsea midfielder.
United's latest offer for the England international, 24, was £55million, but the Blues are holding out for £65m (£58m up front, £7m in add-ons). United had previously warned that they would walk away from negotiations after a third bid – and now face a crucial decision.
Ten Hag is a long-time admirer of Mount after trying to sign him on loan from Chelsea as Ajax manager five years ago. United want to get their transfer business done early this summer after being drawn into a long-running saga to sign Frenkie de Jong this time last year.
Mount is not currently one of the top 20 paid players at Chelsea and his stock at the club has declined after multiple attacking arrivals at the West London club across the past two transfer windows. He has expressed a clear preference for joining United this summer and will not sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge.
United are now caught between two minds of continuing their pursuit of Mount and an awareness that Chelsea have placed too high a price tag on a player who is out of contract next year and is intent on leaving the club.
As detailed by the Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag and United have identified four other alternatives in the position should they not be able to land Mount this summer. The boss has already held video calls with players whom he wants to sign.
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While Mount tops the club’s shortlist, United are unhappy with Chelsea’s approach to the deal and are now minded to look elsewhere. The priority for the Red Devils was to conclude the transfer quickly and in the absence of agreement, they will move on.
Ten Hag explained the difficulties of signing English players following his appointment. "I would like to sign English players because I think there is only one criteria and that's quality in combination with the price," Ten Hag explained last summer. "It looks like English players are quite expensive. It's a fact you cannot deny. In the end, it's about quality."
The approach to this summer’s transfer window may be different with United appearing to be focusing on more ready-made Premier League players and commit larger transfer fees. The club are in the Champions League next season and want to launch a push for the Premier League title.
