Chelsea's Mason Mount: The £40m midfielder Manchester United failed to snatch
Manchester United have made a £40m bid for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, but it has been rejected Talks between the two clubs are ongoing as United look to bolster their midfield options Mount has won the Champions League and Club World Cup with Chelsea since graduating from the academy
Chelsea have "immediately rejected" Manchester United's opening bid for midfielder Mason Mount.
The offer is thought to be worth £40m.
United have a clear idea of what they are willing to offer and it appears that there is a significant disparity in terms of valuations. Additionally, the club is exploring other potential signings and is willing to abandon negotiations if necessary.
Mount's contract at Stamford Bridge is set to expire in a year, and word has it that he is eyeing a transfer. However, Manchester United has a specific value in mind for the 24-year-old, and they aren't willing to pay more than that, especially since he's approaching the end of his current deal.
United has other potential targets in mind if the desired move does not come to fruition. One such player is Moises Caicedo, a midfielder from Brighton & Hove Albion, who has piqued the interest of the club for quite some time. Reports suggest that United has requested to be updated on any news regarding the future of the highly sought-after 21-year-old.
United are keeping a close eye on West Ham's Declan Rice, who is likely to depart the club this summer. However, their spending power may be influenced by the amount generated from player sales and the outcome of the ongoing takeover negotiations. While United's top priority is to recruit a striker, it appears unlikely that they will pursue Harry Kane due to Tottenham's reluctance to part ways with the player, particularly to a Premier League adversary.
United have made initial contacts over the availability of Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund and are keeping an eye on Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani, among others.
United has shown keen interest in 26-year-old Min-Jae Kim, a central defender from Napoli, and is keeping a close eye on his situation. It is believed that Kim has a release clause of £42m that will come into effect for a 15-day period starting from July 1, and the club is monitoring the situation closely in case there are any departures in that position.
Monaco's Axel Disasi is another player United are said to be looking at and the France international wants the move.
How long will Chelsea hold out on Mount?
We News senior reporter Dharmesh Sheth:
The valuation difference between the clubs is quite significant, leading United to consider other potential players in the event that a deal for Mason Mount falls through. With Mount's contract set to expire in just one year, it begs the question of how much longer Chelsea will continue to negotiate in this manner.
"If they continue to say, 'no - you need to raise more money to sign him', Manchester United may turn around and say they are comfortable with their bids and will pull away.
Mount's potential departure from Chelsea next summer could be a concern for the club, as he has been a key player in their recent success. However, his possible move to Manchester United seems to be gaining traction, and it remains to be seen if any other clubs will enter the fray. Without competition, Chelsea may struggle to secure a favorable deal for their star midfielder."
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Speculations are rife as to which players will be on the move during the transfer window, which opens on June 14 and closes at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland. Among the most talked about names are those of players whose clubs are unwilling to meet their asking prices, such as the likes of Chelsea, who are at risk of losing a player for free if they continue to reject bids that fall short of their valuation. United, on the other hand, seem to have set their limit at £55m, which could mean they are only willing to go as far as £50m-£55m for certain players.Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on We' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on We News.
