Chelsea 'unwilling to lower Mason Mount asking price'

The England international is set to enter the final 12 months of his Chelsea contract, and talks over a new deal have seemingly hit a stalemate over the player's wage demands.

Mount is looking to receive a significant pay increase that would bring him in line with the highest earners at the West London club.

Mauricio Pochettino, who is set to become the new Chelsea head coach, wants to retain Mount's services and include him as part of his plans.

However, interim boss Frank Lampard has conceded that he cannot offer any guarantees over the future of the Chelsea academy graduate.

Fresh talks over Mount's future are expected to take place next week, but if the two parties are unable to reach an agreement then Chelsea will entertain a sale this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer next year.

The prospect of Mount being available for transfer has alerted a number of Premier League clubs, including Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

A recent report claimed that the 24-year-old would favour a move to Old Trafford, but Chelsea's asking price could prove to be a stumbling block.

According to The Independent, Man United may be reluctant to meet Chelsea's £55m valuation due to uncertainty surrounding their transfer budget.

Previous reports have suggested that the Red Devils would be willing to submit an offer in excess of £50m, but that may not be the case, with the club set to strengthen in a number of areas this summer.

Man United will attempt to sign a striker this summer, and they have been linked with Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane, which would cost them a significant fee.

Such a transaction could limit the fund available to make a credible bid for Mount, with Chelsea unwilling to drop their current asking price.

Once the ownership situation is resolved, there is hope that Erik ten Hag will have greater clarity about what funds are available to him this summer.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is currently the favourite to purchase the club over Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, and a preferred bidder could be named on Friday.