Manchester United won the race to sign star English midfielder Mason Mount from Chelsea on Thursday, 29 June. After two weeks of negotiations, Chelsea agreed a $69 million transfer fee (including $7 million add-ons) with the Red Devils and the player. Will officially move to Old Trafford on 1 July after successful medical.
The 24-year-old central midfielder has been linked with a number of top football clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool, but only Manchester United have moved in with an official bid. Chelsea reportedly rejected the first two bids of $50 million and $63 million as they set an asking price of $87 million plus add-ons.
But the player himself has pressed for a move as he remains adamant on leaving Stamford Bridge this summer. Mount only had one year left on his current contract with the Blues. Chelsea management wanted to keep their academy star and tried to offer him a mega-contract of $250,000-a-week to stay. But the player had already agreed a contract with Manchester United and Chelsea wanted to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.
Arsenal and Liverpool showed some initial interest in Mount but were never approached by Chelsea. Arsenal, who finished second in the English Premier League this season, are set to sign Declan Rice for a British record fee of $132 million and have already secured Kai Havertz from Chelsea this month. Liverpool are eyeing another midfield reinforcement after securing Alexis McAllister from Brighton this month for just £41million.
Blues fans will certainly be disappointed with the departure of Mason Mount as the player rose through the ranks from the academy level. Former manager and legendary Chelsea player Frank Lampard has tipped Mount to become the next Chelsea captain after Cesar Azpilicueta. Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel also expressed his desire to reunite with Mount but no official bid has been made by the Bundesliga giants.