Mason Mount: Manchester United prepare formal approach after agreeing terms with Chelsea midfielder
A transfer fee is yet to be agreed and the Blues will demand at least £60million for the 24-year-old, who looks set to lead a player exodus from Stamford Bridge this summer.
Chelsea have given Mateo Kovacic permission to speak to Manchester City, and the departures of Mount and the Croatia international would be a loss to new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Mount and Kovacic are among several Chelsea players with 12 months left on their contracts, and the club need to offload players after spending more than £600m on transfers this season. Chelsea are ready to sell both influential midfielders to ensure they receive a fee and do not risk losing them for free next summer.
Arsenal also hold interest in Mount, while Liverpool have targeted him and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister as they start a midfield rebuild, but the England international now looks set for a move to Old Trafford. United boss Erik ten Hag is thought to have identified Mount as one of his key summer targets, alongside Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
Mount appeared to say his Chelsea goodbyes after their final game of the season, against Newcastle, at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Pochettino had indicated he wants to keep Mount, but the Argentine has seemingly been unable to exert any influence over his future amid a contract stand-off with Chelsea.
Mount does not want to leave his boyhood club but was seeking a deal that would bring him closer in line with other senior members of the squad. His club and England team-mate Reece James last year signed a six-year contract worth £250,000 a week, reflecting his status at the club.
Kovacic is in talks with City, as Pep Guardiola looks to freshen up his midfield, while there is also uncertainty over the future of N’Golo Kante.
Kante is out of contract this summer and is yet to agree a new deal. Losing Mount, Kovacic and Kante would leave Pochettino needing to rebuild his midfield and Chelsea have been linked with Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who has a £52m release clause.
Goodbye? Mount appeared to bid farewell to Chelsea after the final game of the season
/ Chelsea FC via Getty ImagesChelsea also have interest in Declan Rice, but Arsenal are seen as frontrunners to sign the West Ham captain. Bayern Munich are also interested in Rice and their manager Thomas Tuchel is said to have told the 24-year-old he will build his midfield around him. But reports claim Bayern are willing to pay only up to £85m for Rice, while West Ham are demanding £120m.
Chelsea are preparing a clear-out this summer but have rejected a £30m bid from Brighton for defender Levi Colwill, who spent this season on loan at the Amex.
