Man Utd agree to Chelsea request over Mason Mount, with Ten Hag snookered after back-up transfer collapses
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount along with the Man Utd badge
A free agent coup Man Utd were chasing has fallen through after a rival offer was accepted, though there is renewed hope a deal can be struck with Chelsea over Mason Mount after a fresh compromise.
The Red Devils are chasing additions at goalkeeper, centre-back, central midfield and striker this summer. Regarding the midfield pursuit, two players have emerged in Erik ten Hag’s sights – Adrien Rabiot and Mason Mount.
Indeed, the Athletic’s David Ornstein recently revealed United were in contact with Rabiot and his camp over a potential free agent switch to Old Trafford. The 28=year-old is out of contract on June 30 and for the longest time, an extension with Juventus seemed highly unlikely.
However, Fabrizio Romano dropped a bombshell on Tuesday morning when revealing a change of heart had occurred.
Rabiot was reportedly on the cusp of penning fresh terms with Juventus and per the latest update, that deal has now been signed.
Romano tweeted Rabiot has “accepted” the latest contract offer from Juventus, with Romano delivering his signature “here we go” confirmation.
As such, the France international has eluded Man Utd for the second time after previously trying and failing to sign Rabiot last summer.
With that move now resigned to the scrapheap once again, Man Utd’s pursuit of Mason Mount has assumed greater significance.
The Red Devils have an agreement over personal terms with Mount in place. However, they’ve seen three separate bids knocked back by Chelsea.
The latest was worth £50m plus £5m in add-ons. Chelsea counteroffered to the tune of £58m plus £7m in add-ons.
The Times were among those to declare United may walk away from the deal if Chelsea refused to relax their demands. £65m is a hefty sum to pay for a player who can move for nothing 12 months from now.
Man Utd agree to Chelsea compromise
To try and solve the impasse without having to lower their demands, both Romano and Ornstein reported Chelsea had proposed meeting with United officials face-to-face to try and thrash out a solution.
According to the latest from Romano, United have agreed to sit-down talks with their Blues counterparts. The two delegations will now come together at some stage within the next 24-48 hours.
Romano concluded United’s £55m offer remains valid and on the table, though “not forever”.
With Mount adamant he won’t sign an extension even if the move to Old Trafford falls through, all parties will be hopeful the final roll of the rice brings a positive result.
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