Mason Mount presented Max Verstappen with The Pirelli Pole Position Award after the Red Bull driver recorded the quickest lap in the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying session. The Chelsea midfielder has been joined by Ben Chilwell in Barcelona this weekend while Manchester United prepare to table a bid.
Verstappen will start ahead of local hero and teammate Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris on the grid tomorrow afternoon. The Dutchman will be hoping that Mount - and Chilwell - can continue to be a lucky charm after previously visiting the team's garage.
Once the Blues duo return from their summer break, they may no longer be teammates. In fact, following the defeat to Newcastle United on the final day of the Premier League season, Chilwell was seen comforting a visibly emotional Mount.
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football.london understands that the Blues were once close to reaching an agreement with the 24-year-old over a new deal but, after the World Cup in late December, an offer was no longer on the table. Then, in January, Chelsea reopened talks with Mount, though he didn't want to sign a one-year extension.
It's believed that the England international has not received another proposal since, meaning he'll become a free agent at the end of next season. With a departure on the cards, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are all believed to be seriously interested in his signature.
While supporters may be excited by the rumours flying around, Jamie Carragher has questioned the timing of reports which claim that Mount is close to joining United. The former Liverpool defender tweeted: "Clubs normally feed information about a potential signing after a defeat to lift their supporters & change the narrative. Man United have fed the Mason Mount deal before the Cup Final, are their supporters that fearful & negative about today?!!"
Meanwhile, Paul Merson has slammed Chelsea for letting Mount go. Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Arsenal midfielder said: "I cannot believe Chelsea are letting Mason Mount go. We saw it last season with Antonio Rudiger, who was outstanding and one of the best defenders at the club.
"He asked for more money and they didn’t give him it and then they buy Kalidou Koulibaly for £33m on a four-year contract which works out as more money than what they’d give Rudiger. Now they’re doing it with Mount.
"He’s one of their own, he hasn’t had a very good season but they’re judging it just on one season. The year before he was Chelsea’s best player. He was one of the first names on the teamsheet for England. Now they’re letting him go. It’s mind-blowing.
"They’ll bring someone in who will probably take another year to get used to the league because they will have played abroad. You’re also letting a very good footballer go to Manchester United or Liverpool, who Chelsea are fighting with to get into the top four next season.
"You couldn’t write it. How can you let him go to a club that could majorly haunt you? United won’t believe their luck if they get him."
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