Ten Hag insists Mount wanted Chelsea transfer to Man Utd

Suraj Radia

Updated: 4 Apr 2024 19:11 BST
3 min read

Erik ten Hag has insisted that it was Mason Mount’s decision to join Manchester United last summer despite reports that Chelsea had looked to facilitate his sale.

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Mount moved to Old Trafford from the Blues for £60 million after he failed to agree terms on an extension to his contract, which he had entered into the final 12 months of.

The decision to leave his boyhood club for a Premier League rival raised some eyebrows, with some suggesting the move was down to financial reasons – a claim which Mount is believed to be disappointed by as he felt the transfer was Chelsea’s choice.

READ MORE: Latest Man Utd transfer news

A report from ESPN claims that Chelsea were under pressure to raise money following their extravagant spending the previous summer and felt Mount’s contractual situation, combined with his status as an academy sale represented a ‘perfect solution’.

It is stated that Mount did not reject multiple contract offers from Chelsea as previously reported, but instead the club had invited offers for the England international as early as December 2022.

Ten Hag offered his own view on the transfer, saying: “I don't think Chelsea wanted to sell him. They wanted to keep him and offered him a new contract many times. But he wanted to make this step.”

© IMAGO - Mason Mount has had a difficult start to life at Old Trafford

Mount looking to bounce back from injury woes

Mount’s first year with United has so far been a disaster, with the 25-year-old making just four Premier League starts, having missed a large portion of the campaign through injury.

The midfielder made his return in March from a four-month absence and came off the bench to score his first goal for United in their draw against Brentford last week.

Mount is expected to play a part in United’s game against Chelsea, which will see him return to the club he joined as a six-year-old for the first time since his departure.

The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool had been strongly linked to Mount last summer but United’s bid was believed to be the best financial offer for Chelsea.