Despite Chelsea rejecting Manchester United’s initial offers for midfielder Mason Mount, the Red Devils remain unwavering in their confidence of securing his signature. Two bids put forward by United were turned down by Chelsea, who are holding out for a hefty £70m transfer fee, despite Mount’s contract expiring next summer. 

In their latest bid, United offered £45m plus an additional £5m in add-ons, only to face rejection once again. Undeterred, United is patiently strategizing their approach before making a third and potentially final offer.

Erik Ten Hag, the United manager, is eager to enhance the team’s midfield athleticism and has a deep admiration for Mount’s pressing abilities and versatility. United is hopeful that Chelsea’s rigid stance on the contract extension talks, which have hit an impasse due to wage disagreements, will eventually force them to reconsider their demanding asking price. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive betting odds from Nextbet. 

A glimmer of hope exists for United as Chelsea has a longstanding policy of selling players entering the final year of their contracts. United believes that a bid close to £60m could potentially persuade Chelsea to part ways with Mount, as the alternative could be losing him for free next summer. The possibility of a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January has also piqued the interest of Bayern Munich.

The relationship between Mount and Chelsea has grown increasingly strained since last summer, making a separation mutually beneficial for both parties. However, United is concerned that they might need to abandon their pursuit if Chelsea remains obstinate in their valuation of the player. In such a scenario, United could redirect their focus towards securing a deal for Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo. Interestingly, Chelsea is actively pursuing the signing of Caicedo.

United’s position regarding the transfer fee for Mount is anchored in his dwindling contract duration. Chelsea has already accepted a bid of £25m, with an additional £5m in add-ons, from Manchester City for Mateo Kovacic, who, like Mount, has only one year remaining on his contract. Additionally, they have agreed to sell Kai Havertz, who still has two years left on his deal, to Arsenal for an initial fee of £60m. It is worth noting that Chelsea acquired Raheem Sterling from City last summer for £47.5m when he was also down to his final year.

While Arsenal and Liverpool have explored the possibility of securing Mount’s services, United is currently viewed as his most likely destination. Fortunately, personal terms are not expected to pose an obstacle in negotiations between Mount and United. 

There is still a chance for Mount to reconcile with Chelsea and forge a way back into their plans if a transfer fails to materialize. Mauricio Pochettino, the newly appointed head coach of Chelsea, has expressed a desire to work with the talented 24-year-old. Pochettino could potentially reignite contract discussions if Mount remains at the club and is not sold during the transfer window. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.