Mason Mount: Chelsea rejects £40m bid from Manchester United

Chelsea have rejected an initial bid of £40m for in-demand midfielder Mason Mount from Premier League rivals Manchester United

United manager Erik ten Hag has identified the 24-year-old as a valuable addition to their attacking options. However, given Mount’s contract has only one year remaining, United deems Chelsea’s £70m valuation unrealistic.

Despite the rejection, it is likely that Manchester United will make another offer for the talented attacking midfielder. However, they are mindful of their overall transfer budget for the summer, which could impact their pursuit. Consequently, the prospects of United signing Tottenham’s England striker Harry Kane for £100m are deemed highly unlikely for similar financial reasons.

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Ten Hag has prioritized the acquisition of a new striker for the upcoming season. Nevertheless, Mount’s versatility in advanced positions has made him a target for United. Mount, who joined Chelsea’s academy at the age of six, had loan spells at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem and Derby County before making his first-team debut in August 2019.

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For three seasons, Mount was a regular in Chelsea’s first team and played a crucial role in their Champions League triumph in the 2020-21 season. However, his number of Premier League starts decreased to 20 in the 2022-23 season, and he missed the end of the domestic campaign due to injury. Mount has scored 33 goals in 195 appearances for the Blues.

Chelsea have been engaged in contract talks with Mount for a significant portion of the previous season. However, the club’s substantial spending of £600m over the past two transfer windows has raised Financial Fair Play concerns, prompting the need to sell players before June 30.

Mount made his senior debut for the England national team in September 2019, played a crucial role in their journey to the Euro 2020 final, and currently has five goals from 36 caps.