Manchester United are set to make their first signing of the summer after agreeing a deal to buy Mason Mount from Chelsea for £60m.
Chelsea, who are already closing in almost £200m in sales during this window, were keen to move on from the Mount saga and a compromise has been found following talks between the two clubs.
United are paying £55m plus £5m in add-ons for the midfielder, who was identified as a key target by Erik ten Hag and will sign a five-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of extending it by a year. They are also ramping up their pursuit of the Internazionale goalkeeper, André Onana, who wants to link up with Ten Hag, his former manager at Ajax, at United.
Mount’s departure from his boyhood club became inevitable after talks over a new contract with Chelsea broke down. The 24-year-old is out of contract next year and he made it clear he has no intention of signing an extension.
Mount’s relationship with the Chelsea hierarchy has deteriorated over the past 12 months and he will hope that joining United helps him rediscover his form after a difficult year.
Arsenal and Liverpool had also shown an interest in the England international, while Thomas Tuchel had designs on bringing him to Bayern Munich, but United have made the strongest push. The Guardian reported earlier this month that Mount had already agreed personal terms with United. Ten Hag wants more athleticism in midfield and he admires Mount’s workrate, versatility and technical ability.
United began with an offer of £40m, moved up to £50m and submitted a third offer of £55m last week. Chelsea’s starting point was £70m plus add-ons but they lowered their asking price to £65m last Friday. Key sources suggested that United would look to meet Chelsea somewhere in the middle this week.
Chelsea’s decision to sell one of their brightest academy products will cause much debate within the club’s fanbase. Mount, who has scored 33 goals in 195 appearances, is a favourite with the Stamford Bridge faithful and Frank Lampard, one of the greatest players in the Stamford Bridge club’s history, saw him as a future Chelsea captain.
Yet Mount struggled with injuries last season and the uncertainty over his future has taken a toll. Mount is on around £75,000 a week and Chelsea made several offers to him, the highest worth around £200,000 a week.
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