Manchester United is set to increase their offer for midfielder Mason Mount after Chelsea turned down their initial two bids.
The Blues are reportedly seeking a fee close to £65m for the player. United is also keeping an eye on the situation of Declan Rice, the West Ham captain, who is being pursued by Arsenal and Manchester City.
United is preparing a third bid for Mason Mount, which is expected to be around £55m. However, if Chelsea rejects this offer, United will likely end their pursuit.
The club’s previous bids, including add-ons, were worth £50m, but Chelsea’s valuation is higher. United has set a limit on how much they are willing to pay for a player who has just one year remaining on his contract.
United retain an interest in West Ham captain Declan Rice and there have been discussions internally about how possible it would be to sanction a deal.
Man City and Arsenal are also interested in Rice, with Sky in Italy reporting City are prepared to pay £75m + £15m in bonuses payable across two years for the midfielder.
Reporter Gianluca Di Marzio added on Thursday evening that Rice is getting closer to a City move and there is confidence an agreement can be made.
Due to Financial Fair Play rules, it’s unlikely United could spend a huge portion of their budget on one player – especially as they have other areas they want to strengthen.
For that reason, they are looking at a number of other options in midfield. Potential sales of players would, however, increase their spending power.
Erik ten Hag first bumped into Mount when he was Ajax head coach. On loan at Vitesse Arnhem, the 18-year-old’s free-kick led to his side’s third goal as they beat Ajax 3-2 in March 2018.
Ten Hag, then in charge of just his eighth game at Ajax, reportedly tried to sign Mount for the Dutch club on loan from Chelsea the following season. Fourteen goals and 10 assists in his first full campaign of senior football, largely from central midfield, had caught Ten Hag’s attention.
The likelihood of Mount staying at Stamford Bridge is remote with the midfielder unwilling to sign a new deal. Chelsea know this is the time to cash in on a player who has just one year left on his contract.
Ten Hag, it seems, could be about to get his man.