Mason Mount’s contract standoff with Chelsea has alerted ‘Big Six’ rivals, who could test the club’s resolve to keep the midfielder this summer.
Mount has been in contract negotiations with Chelsea over an extension but has rejected the club’s latest terms, with the England international keen for his new deal to reflect his importance to the side.
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The 24-year-old is among the lowest-paid players at Stamford Bridge, despite winning Chelsea’s Player of the Season accolade in each of the past two campaigns.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea’s latest offer is ‘significantly less’ than the wages handed to recruits such as Raheem Sterling and short of Mount’s demands.
Mount will have just 12 months remaining on his deal this summer and his situation has alerted several ‘Big Six’ rivals. Liverpool are among the clubs monitoring developments and could test Chelsea’s resolve with a summer bid.
Chelsea have spent more than £500m on new additions since last sumner, including the £106.8m British transfer record signing of Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez in January. The west Londoners are expected to make sales this summer in order to balance the books and the departure of academy products, such as Mount, would represent pure profit on the club’s balance sheet.
Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have also been linked with departures. Mount has made 188 appearances for Chelsea since progressing from the club’s academy ranks.
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