At 24, Mason Mount has already flourished where Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Dennis Bergkamp, Gianluigi Buffon, Ronaldo Nazario and other illustrious figures of the European game had all failed.
FC Porto's Estadio do Dragao was the stage in May of 2021 where Mount's sumptuous through-ball assisted Kai Havertz in scoring the goal that would secure Chelsea a second Champions League triumph in 10 years as Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea recorded a sensational triumph over Manchester City in the showpiece European final.
In doing so, the England international ensured he was successful in spearheading an out-of-sorts Chelsea side, that had significantly lost its way under one-time manager Frank Lampard, to the pinnacle of the European game.
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But less than two years on from his starring role on the mainland, Mount finds himself on the verge of a summer exit from Stamford Bridge with Chelsea planning a substantial trimming of the squad during the off-season after an excess of arrivals in West London since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's takeover last May.
The midfielder is yet to agree on a new long-term deal despite extensive talks with Chelsea officials about prolonging his stay at the club he joined at the age of six. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been a long-time admirer of Mount and is, along with Jude Bellingham, considered one of the Reds' top targets ahead of a highly-anticipated overhaul this summer.
Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also said to be keeping a watchful eye on the England international and how his contract standoff plays out in the capital in the weeks and months ahead. Tuchel, who last month was appointed as Julian Nagelsmann's successor in Bavaria, is said to be keen on a reunion with his former Stamford Bridge star.
At Anfield, with the soon-to-be out-of-contract Naby Keita possibly having played his last game for Liverpool after suffering an injury while on international duty last week, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also poised to say his goodbyes on Merseyside in just over six weeks' time, the possible arrival of the 24-year-old would certainly be well received this summer.
Similarly to Reds defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mount remarkably tallied Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup triumphs all before he turned 24 years of age. He has also amassed over 120 Premier League appearances for the Londoners since his debut in the summer of 2019.
But perhaps most impressively of all the success during his career so far is the fact he's been triumphant in establishing himself as virtually an ever-present under three different managers at Stamford Bridge having won over all of Lampard, Tuchel and the recently-sacked Graham Potter with his exemplary attitude, vital versatility and undoubtable quality.
Mount's starting berth in West London would come via Lampard at the beginning of the 2019/20 season, whom he had starred under in the previous camp as Derby County reached the Championship play-off finals. After being hit with a 12-month transfer embargo, Chelsea would be forced to delegate responsibilities to Cobham academy graduates Reece James, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori, who would all star alongside Mount as the Londoners defied expectations to achieve an impressive fourth-place finish in the Premier League.
Though despite the Covid-stricken footballing calendar, Mount would finish the 2019/20 season with a place in the Chelsea history books as he became the first academy graduate to make 50 appearances or more in their debut season.
In total, he would make 53 out of a possible 55 appearances across the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and League Cup that season, and by the time Lampard was sacked in the following January, Mount would stand as the most-used player of the manager's tenure with an eye-watering 80 appearances out of possible 84.
Tuchel's arrival in West London would not change Mount's fortunes either as the England international started 16 of the Londoners remaining 19 Premier League fixtures under the German. During his tenure at Stamford Bridge, then Chelsea coach deployed Mount across a variety of positions but mostly on the left-hand channel in a supporting role for forwards Havertz or Timo Werner.
Understandably, there are subtle reservations among some about where the 36-cap England international could fit in at Anfield, with some pivoting Mount in the same bracket as Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones as a player whose most worthwhile position is not currently on display in Klopp's favoured 4-3-3.
But from next season, there is a real possibility Liverpool could make a long-term shift towards a 4-2-3-1 after being denied the chance to do so during the limited pre-season time available in the summer of 2022. The mid-season arrival of Cody Gakpo means Klopp will be entrusted with finding starting positions for the Dutchman and his collection of attacking superstars at Anfield - Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, which would very much suit the potential incoming of Mount.
Too, the 24-year-old would provide the Reds' engine room with a hearty helping of attacking threat. Something they haven't experienced since Philippe Coutinho's days at Anfield. In fact, so far this season Liverpool's nine senior midfield options have returned a measly tally of just seven goals across 11,620 minutes in all four competitions. Five of those have come from Elliott.
In the subsequent 191 appearances after his Chelsea debut in August of 2019, Mount contributed 33 goals and 37 assists. Such was his influence on Tuchel's side that in December 2021, Chelsea had yet to lose any of the 13 Premier League games in which he had scored.
"It’s not a statistic that guarantees you to start because this would be maybe a bit too easy but it’s something that we cannot deny," said Tuchel when asked about Mount's growing influence on the then-European champions. "To have Mason brings a certain attitude, aura and mentality on the field and it’s nice that he has this winning ratio. We are aware of it and it’s full credit to him."
"It’s very hard to drop him because even when he has not-so-good games, you still always get full energy, positivity and a wonderful approach to the game."
On Tuesday, Stamford Bridge will be the vicinity where Mount will try and bury the Reds' far-fetched bid for Champions League football, but Merseyside could prove to be the destination where the midfielder brings his career during the off-season in the hope of much-needed resurgence.
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