Saturdays mean Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports, and that means another rant from Paul Merson.
While many consider him a joke – and he certainly doesn’t take himself too seriously – he also makes great points, and in a world of hyperbole online is starting to emerge as a pundit who may actually know what he’s talking about.
In this case he’s laid into Chelsea for what is going on with Mason Mount and his contract situation. He drew unflattering parallels with last year’s departure of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.
“We saw it last season with Antonio Rudiger, who was outstanding and one of the best defenders at the club. He asked for more money and they didn’t give him it and then they buy Kalidou Koulibaly for £33m on a four-year contract which works out as more money than what they’d give Rudiger,” the former Arsenal defender pointed out in quotes picked up by the Metro.
“Now they’re doing it with Mount. He’s one of their own, he hasn’t had a very good season but they’re judging it just on one season. The year before he was Chelsea’s best player. He was one of the first names on the teamsheet for England. Now they’re letting him go. It’s mind-blowing.
“They’ll bring someone in who will probably take another year to get used to the league because they will have played abroad.
“You’re also letting a very good footballer go to Manchester United or Liverpool, who Chelsea are fighting with to get into the top four next season. You couldn’t write it.
“How can you let him go to a club that could majorly haunt you? United won’t believe their luck if they get him.”
You won’t find any disagreement here. Whatever the causes, if the result is a home grown, double player of the year winner departing on the cheap, there can be no doubt you’ve messed up somewhere along the way.
The results of a year of ill advised spending won’t just hit the club’s bank account now, it has caused ripples which will last a decade or more.
Mount won’t sign a new contract he was offered 6/5/4 year contract 240 grand a week he turned them down , Merson needs to do his home work before shouting out
They are getting rid of Mount because he wants far more money than he’s worth,they can get a more consistent player for less money,that makes sense.Football is a business and that’s business.
Yup. This was a situation where the player’s ego has gotten the best of him. He’s asked for far more than he’s worth and the owners were right all along to try and pump the breaks. In the process, the kid’s ego led him to declare that he now won’t stay under any circumstances, so what more can be done? Merson throws out these comparisons without any awareness for the fact that Rudiger and Christensen were both handled by the previous ownership, lol! The guy is an idiot (just like Mason Mount).
Chelsea didn’t help themselves by over paying for Stirling , they then upset the apple cart by putting him on a ridiculous salary which he isn’t worth , I believe Mount is twice the player , chelsea through and through, why did city get rid of Stirling, Merson is 100% correct . Getting of rid of Havertz is another massive mistake
Chelsea FC are famous for such moves.
Past experience with such names as De Bryne, Sallah, Ake etc.
AND IS BEING DONE AGAIN!!!
MERDON IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT..! WHAT CHELSEA IS DOING IS ACTUALLY UNDERMINING THEIR VERY FOUNDATION RIGHT FROM INSIDE, FROM UNDER THEIR FEET. IT’S TO SAY THE LEAST ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING…. GRADUALLY, THEIR ACADEMY YOUNG PLAYERS WILL LOSE FAITH IN THE SYSTEM THAT HAS HELPED CHELSEA THESE MANY YEARS. CAN’T THEY SEE? THIS BLINDNESS SPIRITUAL-TO UNDERMINE YOURSELF