Manchester United have reached an agreement on personal terms with Mason Mount and are expected to win the race to sign the Chelsea midfielder this summer.
Chelsea are ready for a heavy clearout and have also given permission for Manchester City to open talks with Mateo Kovacic. Pep Guardiola is looking for more depth in central midfield and Kovacic, who has a year left on his deal, is expected to join the Premier League champions.
Chelsea’s owners do not want to keep players whose contracts are running out. That thinking applies to Mount, whose deal expires next year. Chelsea have made no progress with the England international in talks over an extension and are facing the prospect of losing one of their academy stars.
United have not agreed a fee for Mount and Chelsea are expected to demand at least £60m for the 24-year-old. Erik ten Hag, United’s manager, wants more dynamism in midfield and he admires Mount’s athleticism, pressing and versatility. Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have also been monitoring the situation.
Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea’s new head coach, wants to keep Mount. However, it is understood that several United players expect to be playing alongside Mount next season.
Kovacic has also not been offered a new deal by Chelsea. The Croatia midfielder, who has spent five years at Stamford Bridge, is ready for a fresh challenge and he has been given permission to speak to City.
Kovacic would welcome the chance to play for Guardiola, who is keen to increase his options in midfield. City could lose Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer. Kalvin Phillips has struggled as Rodri’s deputy since leaving Leeds last summer.
Chelsea need to recoup funds and cut their squad after spending £600m on signings since last summer. Pochettino is keen to rebuild his midfield and is interested in Sporting Lisbon’s Manuel Ugarte. Chelsea are yet to agree a new deal with N’Golo Kanté, who is out of contract.
Milan want to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek and there is likely to be interest in Conor Gallagher. Others who could leave include Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic, Trevoh Chalobah, Hakim Ziyech and César Azpilicueta. Pochettino would like to sign a goalkeeper and a striker.
