Manchester United have submitted a take-it-or-leave-it bid of £55million for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
The 24-year-old is keen to move to Old Trafford after being left frustrated with the new regime at Stamford Bridge following contract talks last season.
Incoming Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino wants Mount, who has just one year left on his deal, to stay but understands he is powerless to impact the situation. The Blues are now intent on squeezing a large transfer fee out of their rivals, but talks risk collapsing. United had an initial £40m bid turned down, then a £45m bid with a further £5m in add-ons rejected on Wednesday.
Mount’s initial price tag was £70m and it remains to be seen whether the lower bid of £50m plus £5m in add-ons will be accepted. Mount hopes a compromise can be found. No other clubs are expected to come in for him this summer, making it likely he will walk away for free this time next year should United not agree a fee with Chelsea.
United have made Mount their top target but want him available for their pre-season tour of the United States in July. Chelsea are financially well-placed to hold firm for a large fee after agreeing more than £120m worth of player sales amid Financial Fair Play pressure.
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Mateo Kovacic is set to have a medical on Friday after Chelsea agreed a £25m fee with Manchester City on Wednesday. Kai Havertz will also have a medical at Arsenal this weekend.
The Blues agreed to sell their versatile attacker for £65m earlier in the week and he is expected to be unveiled next week. Clubs in Saudi Arabia have agreed deals to sign a host of Chelsea players, including Hakim Ziyech, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy.
Ziyech will join Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr for £8m, Koulibaly is close to joining Al-Hilal for £17m and Mendy remains locked in talks with Al-Ahli.
