What is the figure Chelsea is ready to accept for Mason Mount?

• Chelsea rejected the third offer for Mason Mount by Manchester United worth £55m on Friday
• Counteroffer proposed by Chelsea is £65m including add-ons worth £7m
• Mason Mount currently has 12 months left on his Chelsea contract

Despite the decision by Manchester United not to pursue their rejected third offer for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, they are still interested in signing the England international. United submitted an offer of £55 million including add-ons, which was turned down by Chelsea. The Blues countered with a proposal worth £65 million, with £58 million guaranteed and £7 million in add-ons. However, United is reluctant to meet that price and is exploring alternative targets.

There might be a possibility for the two clubs to find a middle ground and reach a deal, despite the current £10 million valuation gap. According to reports, if United were to offer around £60 million, Chelsea would likely accept it. This figure is lower than Chelsea’s counter-proposal and only £5 million above United’s most recent bid. It has been indicated that Mount prefers a move to United if he leaves Chelsea.

READ: Manchester United alternatives for Mason Mount

At this point, United has not shown any willingness to increase their offer, considering their rejected bid of £55 million as their final approach. United believes that Chelsea’s valuation of Mount includes an additional premium due to their history of giving in to selling clubs for various players they have signed. They point to Chelsea’s purchase of Raheem Sterling for around £47.5 million last summer and the imminent sale of Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City for £25 million plus £5 million in add-ons. Both players were in the final year of their contracts when they moved, and United views Chelsea’s current valuation of Mount as unreasonable given that his contract expires in a year.

Manchester United are still interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and the Blues have set the price tag they are ready to accept. | PHOTO: GOAL |

However, Mount’s age (24) and his status as a homegrown player, combined with Chelsea’s sales of Kovacic and Kai Havertz to Arsenal, as well as several squad players to Saudi Arabian teams, have eased Chelsea’s position with regard to Financial Fair Play. Chelsea is eager to raise funds by the end of this week to offset their books for the current season. They are willing to sell Mount due to his request to leave and would consider a deal of £60 million if United comes back to the negotiating table. Despite the current impasse, there is a belief that the deal will eventually be concluded. If not, Mount could be reintegrated into the Chelsea first team under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, and Chelsea will continue their efforts to secure a contract extension.

READ: Chelsea reject third Mason Mount bid from Manchester United

United has also expressed interest in Moises Caicedo, but a deal for the player from Brighton is expected to be challenging, as Brighton values him similarly to Declan Rice, who could leave West Ham for a fee of £100 million or more in the coming weeks. Caicedo is under contract until 2028 and is younger than Rice. United is unable to complete a deal for Rice without including players in the exchange.

United faces budgetary constraints but is also in the market for a new first-choice striker and may need to find a replacement for goalkeeper David de Gea, whose contract expires on Friday. The uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership further complicates their summer transfer plans.

United has made a contract offer to Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot, whose deal is also set to expire on June 30. The Frenchman is currently considering an offer from the Italian side, but United has expressed their interest over the past few months. Rabiot is expected to make a decision on his next move in the coming days.