After months of speculation, Mason Mount now seems destined to depart Chelsea this summer after almost two decades on the books in west London.
The 24-year-old has just one year remaining on his current contract and has been locked in a stand-off with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy over fresh terms. Plenty of Premier League clubs have been monitoring the situation in the background - and with Chelsea now planning to cash in on Mount this summer, some have made their move.
Liverpool were tipped as the frontrunners for Mount's signature last month, but Arsenal and Manchester United were also firmly in the frame for the sought-after midfielder.
A fresh report from The Telegraph on Wednesday evening revealed that Mount has now 'agreed personal terms' with Manchester United following secret talks. It comes just days after it was claimed that a summer switch to Old Trafford would be the England star's preference, if he were to move on before the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
While Mount is seemingly now on the cusp of signing off on a major move, the race for his services appeared to be far more open just weeks ago.
And with Arsenal in the mix for his signature, comments made by Mount's former teammate Jorginho following his January transfer to the Emirates resurfaced amid speculation that the Italian could be reunited with Mount in north London.
The 31-year-old played alongside Mount for several years at Stamford Bridge and gave Gunners boss Mikel Arteta a glowing endorsement after he was lured away. Speaking to beIN Sports, Jorginho said: "He [Arteta] reminds me a little bit of Sarri. I am used to working with a manager that looks into the details.
Join the debate! Where do you think Mount will end up this summer? Let us know here.
"For me, details make the difference in the end between a good team and a winning team. I am sure, 100 percent, that he worships [the details] so much. I’ve only been here a short time but I’m sure every day there is going to be something new and that’s why I’m so excited as well because I can see that I have so much to learn here."
Arsenal are in the market for midfield reinforcements this summer after coming up short in the title race and it is believed that Mount was a serious target for the Gunners. It remains to be seen whether or not any team will attempt to hijack Manchester United's move, though, with reports earlier this week outlining that Arsenal and Liverpool were 'aware' of Mount's desire to join United.
Agreeing terms with Mount will be a major boost to Erik ten Hag, who is desperate to bolster his squad ahead of the new campaign.
The onus is now on Manchester United to thrash out a package with Chelsea to complete a deal. The obvious caveat to the current situation, however, is that there is still a huge amount of uncertainty over the club's future, with the Glazers no closer to naming a preferred bidder following a taxing takeover process that looks set to drag on into the summer.
