Why Mason Mount is the Ultimate Transfer Target for Man Utd

During his time as Ajax head coach, Erik ten Hag came across Mason Mount while the latter was on loan at Vitesse Arnhem. In March 2018, Mount's free-kick resulted in his team's third goal, leading them to a 3-2 victory over Ajax. Following this impressive performance, Ten Hag attempted to secure Mount on loan from Chelsea for the following season. The young player's exceptional record of 14 goals and 10 assists in his first full senior football season, predominantly from the central midfield position, had caught Ten Hag's eye.

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Mason Mount made a strong impression during his loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem when he was still a teenager. However, Mount has had a challenging fourth season with Chelsea, followed by a tumultuous first year under the club's new ownership. As a result, Manchester United is now leading the race to sign the 24-year-old midfielder and is likely to submit a formal offer.

Mount's future at Stamford Bridge looks bleak as he remains unwilling to sign a new deal. With just one year left on his contract, Chelsea are keen to capitalize on his value and sell him while they can. It appears that Ten Hag may be successful in his pursuit of the talented midfielder.

Why do Man Utd want Mount?

During the early part of the season, United's midfield appeared to have strengthened with the addition of Casemiro (£70m) and Christian Eriksen (free) last summer, solidifying their first-choice options. The trio of Casemiro, Eriksen, and Bruno Fernandes, favored by Ten Hag, has only lost one match this season when starting together, indicating their effectiveness. However, there is a noticeable decline in quality when Fred, Scott McTominay, and Donny van de Beek are utilized as replacements.

Furthermore, as the season progressed, it became evident that Eriksen, although a valuable asset to Ten Hag's team for his ability to maintain possession, has difficulty maintaining his peak performance throughout the entire 90 minutes. In fact, during the latter half of the season, the Denmark international only managed to finish one out of the 15 games he started.

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Eriksen has struggled at the end of the season, while Bruno Fernandes has been a near ever present

Mount's addition to United's midfield would undoubtedly solve the concerns around quality and depth. With his tireless work ethic both on and off the ball, he is a player that managers can trust to consistently deliver.

As former Chelsea manager Tuchel noted in 2021, Mason's presence on the field brings a certain attitude, aura, and mentality that is hard to replicate. Even on an off day, his unwavering energy, positivity, and approach to the game make him a difficult player to leave out of any starting lineup.

Mount's versatility in attack and midfield also makes him a valuable asset for any team. His work rate off the ball and ability to press high up the pitch are traits that managers crave in modern football. With Tuchel praising Mount's work ethic and tactical understanding, it's clear that he would fit seamlessly into Ten Hag's system.

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During his time at Chelsea, Mount's performance peaked in terms of goal involvements, outshining his previous seasons. In his first three seasons, he contributed to a total of 44 goals in 105 Premier League appearances, placing him behind only Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City, with 74, and Fernandes, with 61, in terms of midfielders with the most goal involvements.

Where would Mount fit in at Man Utd?

Mount, at the young age of 24, has a promising future ahead of him. United has the opportunity to acquire an established England international at a discounted rate, with immense potential for further development. Such rare opportunities are hard to come by, making this a valuable prospect for the club.

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Mount, who honed his skills at Chelsea's academy, may have the option to leave the club. Ten Hag's strategy for the season suggests that Mount is well-suited for either of the two No.8 positions typically occupied by Eriksen and Fernandes, with Casemiro providing support as an anchor.

Mount has demonstrated his ability to make an impact on the game from a position on either wing as part of a front three, as seen under Tuchel. This versatility could allow him to take on a similar role to Fernandes, potentially easing the workload of the Portuguese midfielder. However, if deployed as a No.8, Mount would be required to contribute both offensively and defensively, with the majority of his time spent in the opposition's half.

Mount's style of play would fit perfectly with Ten Hag's preference for No 8s who push high up the pitch to restrict the opposition. His success in playing in half spaces further up the field makes him a strong candidate for this role. Additionally, he possesses the necessary stamina to pressure opposing defences when playing in the final third.

A standout moment in United's season was Rashford's goal against Crystal Palace, which perfectly demonstrated Ten Hag's vision for offensive play by the No 8s. As shown in the accompanying image, Fernandes and Casemiro were strategically positioned high up the pitch from the goalkeeper's possession, creating a significant gap between Palace's striker and midfield.

This is done to create space for the goalkeeper, defenders and holding midfielder as they build up the play.

The attack progresses as the two No 8s join the offensive line, forming a front five to overwhelm the opposing defence. The fluidity of this formation depends on the dynamic movement of the advanced midfielders, who often stretch the defence by venturing into wide areas.

In the accompanying image, Casemiro and Fernandes can be seen actively seeking out the ball.

As Fernandes sprints down the right flank, Casemiro positions himself for a potential pass towards the center of the field. Mount's versatile skill set, honed from experience playing both as a central attacking midfielder and on the wings, allows him to expertly place a cross or deftly maneuver through tight spaces.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka chose to pass the ball to Casemiro before he released it with a first-time pass to Alejandro Garnacho. The ball was then spread out to Luke Shaw, who delivered a low cross that was perfectly converted by Rashford.

It's important to note that even though Fernandes isn't directly involved in the play, his wide run opens up the opportunity for Antony to cut in from the right and create space for Garnacho, who ultimately gets the pre-assist. Ten Hag places a significant emphasis on the creativity of his No 8s, whether it's when they have the ball or not.

Mount's skill set aligns perfectly with the system, indicating that it is an ideal fit for him. As the position requires a high level of demand, having depth in the form of Eriksen, Fernandes, and potentially Mount, would allow for rotation and keep the team fresh.