Chelsea have ‘rejected’ Manchester United’s opening offer for England midfielder Mason Mount, says The Telegraph’s Matt Law.
Mount is out of contract at Stamford Bridge next year and the Blues are eager to offload him this summer to avoid losing him for nothing next year, with a contract extension also on the table.
Chelsea reportedly value the England international at between £70-85million, which is slightly ironic given their reluctance to pay him the wages he is demanding, especially as he would surely prefer to stay at his boyhood club.
United are not willing to pay that sort of fee, with reports suggesting they will not go any higher than £60m given the player’s contract situation.
And it seems that Erik ten Hag’s side have tested the waters with a fairly derisory opening bid.
According to The Telegraph journalist Matt Law, Chelsea have turned down an opening offer worth £40m from the Red Devils.
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There is ‘confidence’ at Old Trafford that Mount will not sign a new deal at his current club and United are expected to make another bid.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also confirmed the news of United’s opening bid for Mount.
Romano wrote on Twitter: “Manchester United have submitted an opening bid for Mason Mount today, as they guaranteed to the player days ago. Bid worth £40m.
“Chelsea have rejected the proposal. No plan to accept £40m fee for Mount. Man United, planning to bid again.”
Law was providing an update on a report from earlier on Wednesday.
Said report claims Chelsea’s high valuation of Mount has given them the opportunity to try and tempt their academy graduate into staying.
Mount has already rejected two contract offers, meaning United are confident he will not extend his deal, though new head coach Mauricio Pochettino is ‘desperate’ to keep hold of him.
Chelsea will desperately look to offload several first-team players this summer with Pochettino walking into a club with a humungous first-team squad, which contributed to their woeful 2022/23 campaign.
Kai Havertz is one player attracting interest from elsewhere with Arsenal making a ‘proposal’ on Wednesday, David Ornstein reported.
Like Mount, Chelsea are asking for too much money for Havertz, who is also attracting interest from German giants Bayern Munich.
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