A ‘stalemate’ in contract negotiations has cast further doubt on whether a player who compares favourably to two EPL legends will remain at Chelsea, and Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City are all circling, per a report.
Chelsea’s lavish spend since Todd Boehly and his Clearlake partners took charge was always likely to result in several player exits. However, few Blues fans would’ve predicted among those who could depart is academy graduate Mason Mount.
The 24-year-old is Chelsea’s two-time and reigning Player of the Year, though what should’ve been a straightforward contract extension has devolved into something of a mess.
Mount’s current contract will expire in the summer of 2024 and per the Telegraph, negotiations have reached a ‘stalemate’.
Liverpool, Man Utd and Man City have all been keeping a close eye on how Mount’s situation develops. That factor alone should sound alarm bells at Stamford Bridge, though progress over a new deal continues to stall.
In his piece for the Telegraph, reporter Matt Law delved into the reasons why the situation has come unstuck.
Law stated Mount remains one of Chelsea’s lowest paid players in their first-team squad and remains on the terms he agreed back in 2019.
Mount actually pockets ‘less than half of the salaries’ of some of Chelsea’s loanees and his camp are realising how difficult it can be for homegrown players to be adequately rewarded from a financial sense in west London.
Reece James is one player who has bucked that trend and negotiations over his deal – signed in September of 2022 – were smooth.
It’s been a different story for Mount, and Law reiterates the impasse is not a result of Mount wanting the biggest pay packet possible. Instead, the England international simply wants recognition for his service and acknowledgement of his importance to the team as a whole.
The report stresses there is no ill-will between Mount and manager Graham Potter. Indeed, Mount continues to readily fulfil his media duties for the club despite the stalemate over his future.
However, the fact he compares favourably to Premier League legends Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard when both were his age is making Jurgen Klopp, Erik ten Hag and Pep Guardiola take note.
Mount compares favourably to Gerrard, Lampard
The report notes that upon turning 25, Gerrard had scored 27 league goals in 200 appearances. Mount has already matched Gerrard’s tally of 27 strikes, though in 72 fewer games.
Gerrard did provide nine more assists than Mount before turning 25, though again, that was in 72 extra matches.
When compared with Lampard it’s a similar story for Mount.
Lampard had featured in almost 100 extra league matches before he turned 25 and only scored eight goals more than Mount’s current tally of 27.
Lampard’s combined goals and assists tally was only three better than Mount who doesn’t even turn 25 until next January.
Of course, both Gerrard and Lampard improved their games immeasurably as they entered their mid-late 20s and their statistical output greatly increased. Whether Mount follows the same trend or goes the other way is a question Chelsea are seemingly wrestling with right now.
Law concludes it’s ‘puzzling’ why Chelsea ‘haven’t thrown the kitchen sink’ at Mount thus far. He also labels any scenario in which Chelsea allow Mount to walk a ‘calamity’ for the club.
Chelsea’s loss may well wind up being one of their closest rivals’ gain.
