Trevoh Chalobah has expressed his disappointment at Mason Mount's expected transfer to Man United, hinting at his sadness in a tweet posted as a deal nears completion.
The pair have played together from a young age, coming through the age groups with the club together, with Chalobah following in Mount's footsteps to reach the first team at Stamford Bridge. Having played for the Blues from the age of six, Mount is now set to leave, with Man United expected to complete a £60 million deal.
Amid a change in ownership, Chelsea's fortunes dipped last season and they were unable to convince Mount to sign a new contract. Reports suggest that three attempts were made to secure a new deal for the 24-year-old, but that no such agreement could be reached.
This left the prospect of him leaving for free next summer, with a move to join Man United emerging as an appealing option due to their Champions League qualification and playing style under Erik ten Hag suiting Mount.
However, despite Mount's reasons for leaving, Chalobah still expressed disappointment in the tweet, posted on Thursday after the news broke, he wrote: 'My boy' along with a crying emoji and a broken heart symbol.
Chalobah has also been linked to a move away, with Inter Milan believed to hold an interest in the defender. The 23-year-old made 25 Premier League appearances last season, earning a run in the team following the return of Frank Lampard as interim boss in April following Graham Potter's dismissal.
Alongside Reece James, the duo have been part of an impressive crop of young players to come through the Blues academy in recent years. Before them, 20 years had passed since John Terry had become the last player to push on to become a first team regular having grown up at the club.
Mauricio Pochettino was thought to want to hold on to Mount, with the midfielder possessing a fantastic set of skills, with his pressing style suited to Pochettino's approach. However, the decision is believed to have been taken out of his hands, with the Blues hierarchy keen not to risk losing him for free next summer when his contract expired.
The chance to play in the Champions League will have been a big factor in his departure, with no guarantee that Pochettino would be able to guide them into the top four at the first attempt. This left Mount with a big decision to make, with United playing a system suited to his skills as a number eight, having previously been played out of position under Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
Mount made 195 appearances for the Chelsea first team, contributing 33 goals and 37 assists and winning the club’s player of the season award on two occasions.
