Roland Cutinho
Manchester United ‘unhappy’ with Chelsea over the ongoing Mason Mount transfer saga
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are growing increasingly frustrated with Chelsea as they engage in ongoing negotiations with their Premier League rivals regarding a move for Mason Mount.
United aims to build upon a successful first season under manager Erik ten Hag, during which they secured the Carabao Cup, reached the FA Cup final, and achieved a third-place finish in the Premier League.
As per the Daily Mail, the Red Devils will provide £100 million to the Dutch boss for summer signings, in addition to any funds generated through player sales. However, the potential takeover of the club brings uncertainty regarding their ability to make significant investments in the transfer market.
Mount has become a top priority target for Man United, as the midfielder is approaching the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge with no signs of progress in contract negotiations.
The English midfielder managed to contribute three goals and two assists in 24 Premier League appearances despite having a relatively underwhelming season, along with the rest of the Chelsea squad.
The Blues have both rejected United’s previous offers of around £40 million and £50 million for the 24-year-old. As per the Athletic (subscription required), the club have been hungry in their pursuit of Mount and recently submitted their third bid, approximately valued at £55 million, on Friday.
However, the West Londoners are seeking a deal worth approximately £65 million for the midfielder. After rejecting the third bid, Chelsea have made it clear that a bid of £58 million, along with £7 million in potential add-ons, would be sufficient for them to approve Mount’s transfer to Old Trafford.
In an attempt to break the impasse, they have even proposed a face-to-face meeting with their counterparts at Man United. Hence, United are unhappy with Chelsea, particularly with the strategy of pushing United’s bids through the club’s designated correspondents in London. The club’s football director, John Murtough, has expressed dissatisfaction with this approach.
There are doubts about whether United will be able to increase their offer, as Murtough’s options are limited due to the club’s current financial situation.
Given Mount’s readiness to leave and the fact that he has only one year remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, the Red Devils believe that Chelsea is overvaluing the 24-year-old midfielder.
This situation presents a risk of upsetting Ten Hag, who strongly believes that Mount is his primary midfield target. However, a recent report from the Times stated that the Red Devils could turn their attention to Brighton’s Moises Caicedo if a move for the Chelsea midfielder fails to materialise.
We believe that the club should work in the manager’s favour and try to get the deal sealed for a minimal fee. The next week will be crucial, and the fans will hope that both parties meet on common ground.
It would make little sense to turn back after holding such a strong interest in a player over the course of two weeks.
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Although the club would have alternate midfield targets on their wish list, signing Mount could kick-start United’s transfer window.
It will be interesting to see whether the Red Devils will be able to convince the Blues to stick to their bidding value when they meet in London.
