Mason Mount insists he will not be distracted by uncertainty around his future as he battles to win a place in the England team for their World Cup opener.
The 23-year-old midfielder is heading into the final 18 months of his contract at Chelsea and talks over a new deal have been put on hold until after the tournament in Qatar.
Liverpool and Juventus are keeping track of his situation, with no sign of a breakthrough in negotiations between him and Chelsea.
Mount, however, insists he is only focused on the World Cup, as he battles to force his way into the starting XI for Monday’s Group B clash against Iran.
Mount began five of England’s seven matches at Euro 2020 but is not guaranteed to start in Qatar.
Raheem Sterling will expect to be in the team against Iran, despite his struggles for Chelsea, while Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and James Maddison have been in brilliant form this season. Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford are also options behind Harry Kane.
Mount has told Gareth Southgate that he wants to be a “leader who steps up in the big games”.
“I have always been so focused on my football since I was in the academy,” Mount said, amid the speculation over his future. “I know now there is a lot more media focus on me, but I do not look too much into that. I block it out.”
Mount did not start either of the two Nations League games in September, against Italy and Germany, but Southgate praised him for his impact off the bench in the latter after he scored in a 3-3 draw at Wembley.
“We are a very together group where everyone knows their role,” he said. “You also have leaders who step up in the big games and, as a player, that is always something I want to do and what I want to be. I want to lead and play a big part. But we are all together in this tournament. If you start or don’t start, you want to come on and have an impact, be good around the boys.”
England kick off their World Cup campaign under pressure to better their semi-final and final appearances at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.
They go into the tournament after a run of six games without a victory, but expectations are high, and Mount says the squad want to go all the way and “make the country proud”.
“We know what we can do as a group,” he said. “At a World Cup anything can happen. Our goal is to go one more step, win it and make the country proud.”
