Manchester United have reportedly had a second offer worth £50 million turned down by Chelsea for midfielder Mason Mount.
According to a report from The Athletic, Manchester United have made an improved bid to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this summer. However, the Red Devils second proposal of £45 million plus £5 million in add-ons has not been successful, with the Blues still holding out for a £60 million fixed fee plus £5 million in add-ons.
While rivals Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal are already making moves in the market, United are yet to make their first acquisition of the summer, with the protracted takeover saga impeding Ten Hag’s ability to get his business done before pre-season.
The Red Devils boss is keen to build on last season’s progress, which saw them make an instant return to the Champions League with a third-place finish and also ended United’s six-year wait for a trophy. The Dutchman knows he needs to strengthen his squad if they are to compete toe-to-toe in a title challenge next season.
They have identified Mount as their priority target, with manager Erik ten Hag keen to add more creativity from the middle of the park. Mount has just a year left on his contract, and Chelsea faces the prospect of seeing him leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer next year, which is why they are open to cashing in on their academy graduate this summer.
The player himself is desperate to move to United and revitalise his career, which has stalled at Chelsea, while Ten Hag believes the 24-year-old can rediscover his peak form at Old Trafford. Despite Ten Hag’s eagerness to bring the England midfielder to Old Trafford, United have made it clear to Chelsea that they will not be forced into overpaying for Mount.
With the player in the final year of his current contract and personal terms already agreed upon between Mount and United, the Red Devils believe the ball is firmly in their court. The final hurdle, though, remains the transfer fee with Chelsea, with the deal hanging in the balance unless a compromise can be reached between the two parties.
While United have been unsuccessful with their second bid, they are optimistic about reaching an agreement on a relatively fair price sooner rather than later due to Chelsea’s current financial situation, with the Blues aiming to make player sales to balance their books.
Furthermore, they have a clear run at signing him, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool moving forward with other targets after he made his choice of moving to Old Trafford clear earlier this month. This should play in United’s favour. Thus, while there is a significant gap in the valuations of the two Premier League clubs, a middle ground could be reached pretty soon.
