Fabrizio Romano hands Manchester United a £65m transfer boost

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Fabrizio Romano is playing down suggestions that Manchester United face competition from Bayern Munich to sign Mason Mount as Premier League rivals Chelsea hold out for £65 million. 

This may be what those in the business call ‘leverage’. 

Chelsea know, with Mason Mount out of contract next year and seemingly desperate to join Erik ten Hag’s Old Trafford revolution, that Manchester United hold – if not all – than certainly most of the cards. 

They know that the Red Devils don’t want to pay over £60 million for a player they can sign for free 12 months down the line. They know that Mount has no intention of signing a new deal at Stamford Bridge either. 

So that may be why reports like this suddenly appear. Reports suggesting that Man United – who saw a third bid worth £55 million rejected on Saturday (The Athletic) – were now facing a battle with Bayern Munich to sign the £65 million-rated England international.

Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel worked with Mount at Chelsea, winning the Champions League together in 2021. So this is certainly a believable link to make. 

But is it genuine? Are Bayern really interested? Or are they merely being used as a stalking horse, in an attempt to get United to up their offer? 

Chelsea’s Mason Mount wants Manchester United move

Fabrizio Romano does not totally rule out any interest on behalf of the Bundesliga champions. But he does insist that, as of yet, there is nothing officially on the table.

“Tuchel is a big fan,” Romano writes. “But no bid or talks with Bayern as of now. 

“(The stance from Mason Mount’s camp) remains clear. There are no plans to sign a new deal as things stand.”

To paraphrase Romano, either Mount joins Man United now, or he leaves Chelsea for free in the summer of 2024. 

Todd Boehly may have displayed about as much footballing acumen as a mealworm since taking over in West London but even the man who spent nearly £600 million to finish in the bottom of the Premier League table will have to accept that losing Mount for free – when there are offers of £55 million this summer – would be a very bad look indeed.