Louis Saha has warned Manchester United against a summer swoop for Mason Mount - despite admitting the Chelsea contract rebel could "fit in at any team".
Mount will have just one year remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge come the end of the season, and he has rejected an extension to stay at his boyhood club for the long term. The England international, 24, and the Blues are some way off reaching an agreement as United and Liverpool monitor the situation.
Interest in Mount comes as no surprise even though he has only managed three goals and two assists in the Premier League this season. The Cobham academy graduate registered a stunning 21 goal involvements in 32 top-flight appearances last campaign and shone in midfield under Thomas Tuchel.
Mount has struggled to live up to those standards during a turbulent period for the Blues which has involved Graham Potter replacing Tuchel and a dismal run of results. Saha acknowledges the player's overall quality but insists his poor form is a good enough reason to avoid Old Trafford chiefs making a move for him.
"Mason Mount should not be considered by United," the former Red Devils forward told Lord Ping. "He's not been playing well and it wouldn't be the right call. Mason Mount can fit in at any team, but I don't think he's had a great year at Chelsea and I'm not sure why he'd be linked more than he was before seeing as he was on fire last year.
"I don't think he should move to United as he hasn't been playing well. I think these rumours are coming from agents and I'm not going to blame the media, but moving for Mount is not the right call at the moment."
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Mount played just over an hour before being replaced by Kai Havertz in Chelsea's dismal 1-0 defeat at home by relegation-threatened Southampton on Saturday. Blues boss Graham Potter is struggling to get a tune out of a star-studded attack bolstered by many new faces in the January transfer window.
Against the Saints, Mount was joined in the front four by three midseason arrivals: Noni Madueke, David Datro Fofana and Joao Felix, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid. Potter threw on Mykhaylo Mudryk, Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling and Havertz in search of a winner, but these changes failed to turn the tide as the Stamford Bridge atmosphere grew hostile.
So, while Mount is far from alone when it comes to experiencing a poor run of form, he will need to improve in the run-in to convince Chelsea to raise their contract extension offer - or attract a bid for his services.
