Mason Mount has been tipped to leave Chelsea as concerns arise regarding the midfielder's contract demands. The 24-year-old faces an increasingly uncertain future at Stamford Bridge after entering the final 18 months of his deal.
One of the priorities for the Clearlake Capital consortium, led by Todd Boehly, following their takeover last year was to tie Mount down to a new long-term contract, football.london understands. But, it's believed that negotiations have proven difficult thus far, with the proposed length of contract and wage packet proving to be an issue.
The Cobham graduate, who is said to be on around £75,000-a-week, is far from one of the top earners despite being a seasoned international for England. Mount is said to have turned his nose up at offers in the region of £200,000-a-week, but Simon Jordan believes that he's lucky to be on £50,000-a-week.
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Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Crystal Palace owner said: "What would I do with Mason Mount? I think he’s a very decent player and if you listen to some of the people I spend time with, like Danny Murphy, very educated midfielders like Graeme Souness, they think he’s a very good player.
"None of them are worth £200,000-a-week. None of them are worth £300,000-a-week. There's an argument to be made that none of them are worth £50,000-a-week. When we get into the context of what they actually do, then it is difficult to justify those salaries.
"When you put that into the context of advertising revenues and the world of football, then you can argue they are worth what they get," Jordan added. " Mason Mount I think is one of those that is not going to make the cut in Chelsea’s new way of building and buying. Because he's on Chelsea’s balance sheet as a zero cost because he's an academy payer, then I very much think he could be one of those that are sold.
"Where he is sold to, I don’t know. If the dressing room is full of people earning an average £200,000-a-week, as preposterous as that is, it is well within Mason Mount’s right to be asking for that. As is always the case, the players developed in the youth system take more time to catch up to the wages that new players, who have not done anything for the club, come in on.
"It makes the case, where are Chelsea going and what do they want to do? What new structure are they putting in place? I don’t think Mason Mount is a £200,000-a-week player. I think he’s a very good player.
"I’m like a turkey voting for Christmas against my own argument, these players are getting paid preposterous money so why wouldn’t they ask for it. I think Mason Mount will be sold by Chelsea. The problem is, who buys him at top money and who pays him top money? That I don’t know."
If the two parties cannot reach an agreement over a new deal then Mount will leave Chelsea for free in the June 2024. In the meantime, he could be available for a cut-price fee — and, a number of top clubs are monitoring his situation.
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