According to the Daily Telegraph, United’s first bid for Mount was rejected because it fell short of Chelsea’s £70 million ($88.8 million) value. The England star’s contract expires next summer and United look to be pursuing a strategy that will force the Blues to choose between stick or twist. They believe Mount will not sign a new deal with Chelsea, therefore the Blues must decide whether to sell him this summer or risk losing him for nothing at the end of the 2023-24 season.
It remains to be seen whether United make another approach for Mount, although Mauricio Pochettino seemed open to keeping him at the club, despite the fact that he has previously rejected two contract extensions from the Blues. United may try to extend the pursuit in their belief that Chelsea would be forced to decrease their valuation.
Mount is said to be one of Erik Ten Hag’s top summer targets as United try to improve their team for their return to the Champions League next season. Meanwhile, Pochettino’s team is in a position where they need to trim a bloated squad.
A couple of players, especially Kai Havertz, who is wanted by Arsenal and Christian Pulisic, who is wanted by Juventus, have been linked with summer departures.