Chelsea rejects first Manchester United bid for their star midfielder

Chelsea is seeing a mass exodus of talent at the moment. Despite not having European football, they expect a big bid for their players. They have rejected the first Manchester United bid for their star player

According to recent reports, Chelsea has rejected the first bid from Manchester United for Mason Mount. The London-based outfit has rejected the £40 million placed by Red Devils and is adamant about their price for the attacking midfielder.

"Manchester United have seen an opening bid of £40 million for Mason Mount rejected by Chelsea, but the Old Trafford club are confident he will not sign a new contract with the Londoners(via: The Telegraph)"

In an attempt to bolster their squad, the Premier League giants aim to secure the services of the Chelsea midfielder. Given the impending risk of Mount’s contract reaching its conclusion next year, the Red Devils are inclined towards a prudent approach, aiming to avoid substantial financial expenditure on the talented player from the London outfit. The Old Trafford outfit is also confident about Mount not signing a new contract.

Mason Mount in Chelsea colours

Mason Mount enjoyed his football at Stamford Bridge under the tutelage of Frank Lampard. In the first-ever Premier League season, the attacking midfielder registered 12 G/A from 32 starts. In the 2020/21 season, the player registered 11 G/A from 36 games, with him again helping Chelsea to finish in the top four.

His best season for the Blues came in the 2021/22 season when he had 21 G/A with both goals and assists touching double digits. This came in only 27 starts for the club in the English top flight.

Mount made a significant impact on the grand stage of the UEFA Champions League, providing two crucial assists and delivering a key pass in the final match, ultimately leading his team to lift the coveted trophy.

However, the player struggled in the 2022/23 season with the managerial merry-go-round and his lacklustre form. Across all competitions, the player had only 5 G/A to his name. In the later half of the season, he spent more time on the bench and off the pitch compared to his game time.

(Stats via fbref)

It remains interesting to see in the transfer window to what extent Manchester United are ready to loosen the strings of their purse to sign Mason Mount. With multiple free agents available in the market, the club will try to tempt Chelsea with one more bid but not overspend with the ownership saga dragging on.

What is the optimal price that Manchester United must bid for Mason Mount? Have your say below!