Manchester United had a weekend to forget, with a 0-0 clash with Sunderland seeing the season grind to a halt, and among the poor performers was Mason Mount.
For Michael Carrick, the main job of this season is accomplished, with Champions League football in the bag.
Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland saw several players given a chance to prove they deserve a place in the team next season, but none succeeded.
Mason Mount was one of the worst, struggling in an unfamiliar position, with the outing showcasing why he might have to be sold this summer.
The performance proved that Carrick cannot rely on Mount next season, while Ineos will have another concern.
Did you learn anything from Mason Mount’s performance vs Sunderland?
Mount was playing in a deeper role – would you like to see him there again?
Mason Mount’s wage spike will force Ineos to try find summer sale
Mount was among the biggest losers against Sunderland, with his performance highlighting how he shouldn’t be wearing the number seven, nor be at the club.
This is a hard pill for some to swallow, given how likeable Mount is, but United need to be pushing for his exit this summer.
Of course, it won’t be easy, due to his wages and injuries, which will mean most clubs struggle to see his signing as a good idea.
But Ineos need to try, mainly because, as bad as the signing has been, it’s about to get worse as his wage spikes back up to £250,000-a-week next season with Champions League football.
Simply put, United can’t keep Mount at the club on that wage, and needs to try and sell him.
With Ineos implementing a wage structure, having Mount as an exception to that rule could throw the whole situation into flux, with players arguing they deserve to earn the same amount as him.
Frank Lampard’s Coventry may be an option due to the pair working together in the past, while Fulham also feels like it would be a good fit to rehabilitate his career. Of course, he would have to take a pay cut.
Is Mason Mount out of time at Manchester United?🕰️
How much would United even be able to get for him?💰
How much Manchester United need to break even on Mason Mount
If United are able to sell Mount this summer, it would be for substantially less than the £55m paid to Chelsea in 2023.
But now, United in Focus‘ football finance expert, Adam Williams, has explained just how much United would need to sell Mount for to avoid a loss on the PSR books.
“Assuming the reported figures are correct and Mount didn’t achieve many of the add-ons, his remaining book value is about £22m.
“Agents’ fees are amortised too, so you might have to add those in there to work out the most accurate picture, but that £22m figure won’t be more than a couple of million out.
“Basically, that means if United sold him for any less than £22m, they would make a loss on the deal for the purposes of the bottom line and, by extension, PSR.
“It works the same for the Premier League’s new SCR system too, where player sale profits will be averaged out over three years. Conversely, if they sell him for, say, £30m, they’ll make an £8m profit.
“Either way, I don’t anticipate that United will have any PSR or SCR issues next season. It’s cold, hard cash which is more of a concern, and it will be that which will motivate them to sell Mount even if they are making a loss on the deal on paper.”
Anything above £22m would be great for United when taking into account the wages saved.
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