Frank Lampard admits Mason Mount’s departure would be ‘a shame’ with Manchester United reportedly leading the race to sign the Premier League ace.
Imagine a midfielder with the creativity of Christian Eriksen and the off-the-ball intensity of Fred. Well, if as reports suggest Mason Mount does end up swapping Chelsea for Manchester United during the summer transfer window, Erik ten Hag could potentially get his mitts on a man who offers the best of both worlds.
A signing capable of improving United’s productivity in possession as well as offering further solidity out of it.
Mount’s pressing stats rank highly among the very best in the Premier League. A tally of 13 goals and 16 assists from the 2021/22 season alone, meanwhile, suggests that the England international – labelled an ‘outstanding talent’ by Red Devils legend Roy Keane – can also ease the creative burden on Bruno Fernandes’ sloping shoulders.
Mount, according to the Daily Mail, is reluctant to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge; his current contract expiring in 2024. Man United are preparing an opening bid of around £55 million, with Mount understood to be ‘leaning’ towards Old Trafford despite interest from Liverpool and Arsenal (The Athletic).
Will Mason Mount leave Chelsea for Manchester United?
“I think it is a difficult situation,” Lampard, Chelsea’s interim manager, told Sky Sports before Thursday’s 4-1 hammering in Manchester.
“I don’t know what the solution is going to be because it’s a club and Mason issue. I don’t know exactly where Mason is at personally. He’s got a year left on his contract. I know he’s held in high regard at the club, and I know the club are doing what they can to make him stay.
“But I think also, with Mason, I’d never want to stand here and talk in the modern day about what a player should do, because they’ll see it all with their own eyes.
“In the old days, it was; ‘Why are you leaving the club?’. In the modern day, players move on. It’s a shame we’ve got into a situation where it looks like it’s happening maybe now.”
A pelvis injury ruled Mount out of the midweek trip to Manchester. The next time he arrives at Old Trafford, will he be wearing red rather than blue?
The hope will be that, with top four secured, Ten Hag can finally press ahead with his transfer plans; Mount a leading target alongside Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Napoli’s Kim Min-Jae.
Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and the returning Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, all found the net in a comfortable 4-1 win over old rivals Chelsea; the first time in Ten Hag’s tenure that four goals have been scored in a single game.