Todd saves the day? Boehly talks could keep Chelsea’s most valuable player from leaving

Robin Bairner

• 24 Apr 2023 09:50 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea have held contract talks with midfielder Mason Mount in a development that is being branded “positive” for the future of the England star.

Mount has been strongly linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge in the summer, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich among the clubs linked with a transfer for him. However, it is Liverpool who are thought to be leading the way for the 24-year-old.

Chelsea, though, want to retain the player’s services and have taken a step towards pinning him down on a long-term basis with talks late last week, according to The Athletic.

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Mount has already rejected several offers from the Blues and is said to be demanding a wage in the region of £260,000 to remain at the club.

However, he had a direct conversation with co-owner Todd Boehly on Friday, in which Mount was told of the club’s desire to keep him and the influential part he has to play in their future plans. What had previously looked like a “forgone conclusion”, according to the report, is now seen to be more in the balance.

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Financial Fair Play (FFP) considerations, however, complicate the case for Chelsea. Having come through the academy system, Mount is one of their lowest paid players and will receive a significant wage jump when he signs a new contract. Of course, with the Blues having less spending leeway because of the big signings that they made last season, giving him what would be a significantly improved offer will have a knock-on effect elsewhere.

With an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €73.8 million, Mount is also one of Chelsea’s most lucrative assets. Indeed, according to FootballTransfers’ model, he is the most valuable player in the Blues squad, despite having a contract that expires in 2024.