Pochettino wants to RUIN Man Utd transfer plans

Stuart Telford

9 Jun 2023 17:00 BST
3 min read

Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino with the Manchester United and Chelsea badges and a white silhouette of Illan Meslier, against a plan dark blue background — © ProShots

Manchester United have been closing on the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea, but the Blues could have other ideas now that Mauricio Pochettino has been installed as manager.

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Mount is out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer and it has been widely understood that Chelsea would rather cash in on their academy graduate now than lose him on a free transfer in 2024.

The England midfielder was reportedly disappointed not to be offered terms commensurate with what Reece James earns (£250,000 a week) last September, and Chelsea went on to have a disastrous season, going through four different managers before finishing 12th.

READ: How Chelsea were forced to give up on Ugarte

Liverpool were credited with an interest but Man Utd have pulled to the front of the queue to sign Mount, with Chelsea struggling to achieve their £80 million asking price given his contract duration.

But now Pochettino has been appointed new head coach, the situation has changed.

© ProShots - Frustrated Mount could have to see out the season at Chelsea.

Mount to stay, new contract or not

"There have been internal conversations at Chelsea suggesting that whether Mount signs a new contract or not, the Argentinian wants to keep the England international at Stamford Bridge," reports Simon Phillips on his Si and Dan Talk Chelsea Substack.

"Manchester United want to sign him, but as of now we are pricing him out of that move, and that might continue."

READ: Man Utd make lowball offer for England star

Whether Todd Boehly and Co. force Pochettino's hand or not remains to be seen. Chelsea need to balance the books after spending nearly £600m in the transfer market since the American billionaire took charge last May, and a Mount sale would represent pure profit having been a youth academy product.

On the other hand, the Blues could use a player as versatile as Mount. Joao Felix has been allowed to return to parent club Atletico Madrid, and Mount is comfortable in the final third, but he may be needed in central midfield next term with N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic bound for Al-Ittihad and Manchester City respectively.