Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is said to be a summer transfer target for Arsenal, who are looking to upgrade their options in the centre of the park.
Mason Mount has been linked with a move away from Chelsea in recent times, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool all mooted as potential destinations.
The Gunners have signed several players from the Blues in recent years, including the likes of Petr Cech, David Luiz and most recently Jorginho. Mount is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the current campaign, leaving the west London club with a decision to make regarding his future.
With that said, football.london has rounded up all the latest transfer speculation surrounding the England international and a potential move to Mikel Arteta’s side.
Johnson’s advice
Former Chelsea and Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has claimed that the Blues should look to try and keep Mount before admitting that he could definitely see the 24-year-old joining Jurgen Klopp’s side this summer.
Speaking to Lord Ping, Johnson said: “He has struggled with injuries at times this season, but I don’t know how good he feels in himself. If Mason feels good, he is going to perform. If I am the incoming Chelsea manager, I would prefer to work with him and keep him than try to move him on.
“No-one would be surprised if he left to join a Premier League rival and started fantastically. I could see him getting into that Liverpool side and scoring more than 10 goals a season, easily.
“Anything Chelsea have done well for the best three or four years has come through Mount and he has been involved with.”
Preference revealed
The Athletic have reported that Mount would prefer a move to Manchester United this summer over other interested parties such as Arsenal or Liverpool. It is not yet a done deal that he will leave but the belief is that he is currently more likely to depart than to remain.
When asked about the latest on Mount’s contract, Lampard said: “A lost cause? I don’t know. That’s not my answer to make. That’s between Mason and the club.”
Manchester United are readying a £55million bid for Mason Mount this summer, according to a report from the Daily Mail. This falls short of the reported £85million valuation held by Chelsea ahead of the transfer window, with Arsenal and Liverpool also linked with a potential switch.
According to the Athletic, Arteta wants to add creativity in a more advanced midfield position which has fuelled the pursuit of Mount, after news of Granit Xhaka’s expected departure.
football.londonunderstands that Xhaka is set to secure a £13million move to Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, with the aforementioned report from the Athletic referencing both Mount and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan as potential replacements for the Swiss captain.
Chelsea have recently reopened talks with Mount over extending his stay at the club, although there is no indication anything has changed regarding his future in west London.
Prior to the resumption of contract discussions, the two parties were a long way off in what they believed was a suitable contract offer, casting serious question marks over the player’s future with the Blues. Liverpool remain interested in Mount and Jurgen Klopp’s side remains a genuine possibility for the England international if a new contract can not be agreed upon.
If it gets to the summer and nothing is resolved, football.london understands Chelsea would want something in the region of £70million if they are to sell Mount.
However, Liverpool would definitely try to force that price down because of the 24-year-old’s contract situation and could call the west London club’s bluff with the Blues knowing about the risk of losing him on a free transfer in just over 12 months’ time.
Arsenal have been discussing a potential summer swoop for Mount as the Gunners look to bolster their midfield options, according to GOAL.
It is claimed that talks have taken place over the talented playmaker’s availability, with Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Manchester United also said to be interested in the former Derby County loanee.
