Erik ten Hag is excited for what Mason Mount can bring to the Manchester United team and expects Marcus Rashford to benefit.
Mason Mount was Manchester United’s first signing of the summer, with Erik ten Hag unwilling to pass up the opportunity to sign the England international.
Mount’s availability was a unique circumstance owed to Chelsea’s mismanagement of his expiring contract, and United eventually agreed a £55 million fee to bring him to Old Trafford.
The new signing has started all three pre-season games to date and is beginning to settle in.
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Mason Mount will help Marcus Rashford
Speaking at a press conference, manager Erik ten Hag believes Marcus Rashford will benefit the most from Mason Mount’s arrival.
He believes Mount’s creativity and ability to progress the ball will help to put Rashford into more goalscoring situations.
Ten Hag told club media: “With Mason Mount already we have a player extra who is capable of not only scoring goals but also to create and to place Rashford in the positions so we can score more goals.”
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Rashford and Mount already know each other from the England set up, and should be able to fit together well.
The pair are yet to play together in pre-season. Mount started the first half against Arsenal, with Rashford introduced at half-time.
The duo could get an opportunity to feature alongside each other in the upcoming game against Real Madrid or subsequently, Borussia Dortmund.
Rashford scored 30 goals last season and if Mount can help his surpass that figure, the transfer fee will certainly be money well spent.
New number seven
Mason Mount is on course to play a crucial role when the season begins. Erik ten Hag wants the midfielder to chip in with goals as well as creating them.
United are without a prolific goalscorer, and Mount will be needed to chip in with goals, along with the rest of the team’s attacking players.
Mount, as the new number seven, will want to make an impact and justify United’s decision to hand him the iconic shirt, and prove a point to former club Chelsea too, who did not value him highly enough to give him a top salary.
His partnership with Marcus Rashford will work both ways. If Rashford can finish the chances Mount creates, it will reflect well on the new signing too.