Going into Chelsea's vitally important victory against Leeds United earlier in the month, only Kai Havertz had played more minutes than Mason Mount this season.
Mount has since missed the last four matches with a pelvic injury, that recently ruled him out of the England squad for the ongoing international break despite initially being called up for action by Gareth Southgate. The 24-year-old has been far from his best this term but still remained a crucial part of the first-team squad at Stamford Bridge.
The England international has featured 32 times for Chelsea this season in all competitions, with only Havertz – who has played 36 games – earning more appearances. People have such strong opinions on Mount, especially supporters on social media, but one thing that is clear: every manager he plays under rates him very highly.
READ MORE: Mason Mount to Liverpool transfer a serious possibility amid Chelsea contract talks
See Frank Lampard, for instance, who handed Mount a run in the first-team in the 2019 campaign, a season which turned out to be his breakthrough one in Chelsea colours. When Lampard went, Thomas Tuchel was appointed and many questioned Mount's place in the team under the German coach, especially when he was left out of the starting line-up for the first game of his tenure against Wolves. But the Cobham graduate remained an integral figure and played a big part in the run to the Champions League success in 2021.
When Graham Potter took over from Tuchel in September of last year, unsurprisingly, Mount carried on his crucial role in the Chelsea team but things have not worked out this season. Despite playing more minutes than anyone bar Havertz, the England midfielder has just three goals to his name in the process. He also has four assists, but Mount himself would be the first to admit his return in front of goal has simply not been good enough for a player who has set his standards so high in recent seasons. He has almost become a victim of his own success.
The drama going on behind-the-scenes will not have helped Mount with his performances on the pitch. Mount has just over 12 months remaining on his current contract with Chelsea and football.london understands the two parties are no closer to finding a positive solution to the issue despite both wanting the midfielder to continue playing his football at Stamford Bridge.
Mount wants more money and Chelsea want him tied down to a deal that will run seven years – something the player is not so keen on, with less negotiation room in the future should that be the case. Liverpool are the current front-runners for the England international's signature with the Reds doing the most ground work, but there is also a keen interest from both Manchester City and Manchester United.
The Chelsea midfielder's absence from the team over the past four games has actually coincided with the Blues winning three of those matches. In that time, Potter has reverted back to a 3-4-2-1 formation and it's brought the best out of the likes of Havertz and Joao Felix, who have both been flourishing behind whoever is selected to play in the central striker role.
We've also seen Mykhailo Mudryk play perhaps his best match in a Chelsea shirt so far – the 3-1 win over Leicester City earlier this month – in Mount's absence from the side. The Ukraine international started the match at the King Power Stadium in the No.9 role but moved to the left wing in the second-half that saw him look much more threatening and dangerous for the visitors.
Raheem Sterling shone for Chelsea in the 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. The attacker, who is also sidelined with injury at the moment, was used as an unconventional centre-forward against the Germans and he looked really dangerous and allowed others to win the game on the night.
Then we've got the likes of Noni Madueke, who has barely had a sniff since signing for Chelsea in January, as well as Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech. Mount's absence from the team, with all that is going on behind closed doors, could not have actually come at a worse time for him considering he wants to stay with the club he has been with since the age of six.
What would have been ideal for Mount is to show Potter between now and the end of the season exactly why he deserves what his entourage are demanding in negotiations over a new deal, to show Todd Boehly and the club's new ownership group as well. But if Chelsea's other attackers can continue their recent form for the club then it could be hard to persuade officials at Stamford Bridge. Potter is very well equipped in Mount's position.
Even though football.london brought you the news of Liverpool's serious interest in Mount on Monday afternoon, this contract saga isn't over yet. Chelsea and Mount will still be hoping between now and the summer they can reach a compromise on terms for a new long-term deal. But with each passing day, and with Chelsea's new approach to players who are in the latter stages of their contracts, it looks as if Mount could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge in the summer.
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