Manchester United have made their opening formal offer for Mason Mount – and it’s already been rejected.
According to Matt Law’s exclusive in the Daily Telegraph today, after weeks of rumours the Red Devils finally put their money on the table – but it was just £40m.
That’s just over half of that £70m Chelsea reportedly want for Mount, who has one year left on his contract. Law reports that United are confident that Chelsea will eventually crack and accept that they’d rather take the money than risk losing a player on a free just when they’re in desperate need of some money to dig themselves out of last summer’s hole.
We can see the Blues being negotiated down to maybe £60m, but £40m is a low ball offer without doubt. The most likely outcome is weeks of tense negotiations, only for a deal of £50m plus £10m in potential add ons being agreed.
Chelsea are still open to new contract talks with Mount, but those just feel pretty unlikely right now. He’s turned down our two most recent offers, and the temptation of going elsewhere is pretty strong now – especially given his agent will get a slice of the transfer fee.