Chelsea 'tell Mason Mount he is free to leave'

The England international is out of contract at the end of next season, and discussions to tie him down to a new long-term deal have seemingly hit a brick wall.

Co-owner Todd Boehly was determined to retain Mount's services, but the playmaker is believed to have been unhappy with the wages that Chelsea had put on the table.

The 24-year-old, whose most recent deal was signed all the way back in 2019, is supposedly after a wage that would bring him in line with the club's top earners, whereas the Blues have instead pointed to the security of a long-term deal.

With little progress being made in negotiations, Chelsea are running the risk of losing Mount on a free transfer in 2024, and this summer could be their last opportunity to garner a sizeable fee through a sale.

According to Football Insider, Mount's contract talks with the West London club have now completely collapsed, and he has been told that he is free to leave at the end of the season.

Chelsea are not willing to improve their most recent extension offer worth £180,000 a week, whereas Mount is holding out for a £250,000-a-week contract, similar to that of Reece James.

As a result, the Blues are prepared to sell their academy prospect prior to the 2023-24 season, and he recently hired Neil Fewings as his new agent ahead of a proposed summer switch.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for the Englishman as they prepare for an imminent midfield overhaul, and Mount would represent a far cheaper option than Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham.

Mount would supposedly jump at the chance to work under Jurgen Klopp, who is also a big admirer of the playmaker, but Manchester United have also been alerted to his situation.

The Red Devils are believed to be attracted to the 24-year-old's versatility and status as a home-grown player, and Fewings is already putting feelers out to numerous clubs to get the ball rolling.

Mount enjoyed productive loan spells at Vitesse and Derby County before breaking into Chelsea's first team, and he has since amassed 33 goals and 37 assists in 192 games for the club.

However, an underwhelming 2022-23 season has seen Mount score just three goals and set up six more in 32 appearances across all tournaments, and he has missed the Blues' last three Premier League games with a pelvic injury.

The midfielder was nevertheless called up to the England squad for their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine, although Graham Potter was left bemused by the decision and claimed that he would not be fit for the international period.

Chelsea were pegged back twice in a 2-2 draw against Everton on Saturday, which saw the Blues drop into the bottom half of the Premier League table.