Mauricio Pochettino is prepared to hand Mason Mount an ‘integral role’ in his Chelsea side and wants the midfielder to sign a new deal with the club.
Mount’s future is uncertain after contract talks at Chelsea broke down and the 24-year-old will enter the final 12 months of his deal in west London this summer.
Liverpool have been linked with a move to sign Mount in the summer transfer window, while Newcastle, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich have also been credited with interest in the England midfielder.
However, the Daily Mail are reporting that Pochettino – who is expected to be named as Chelsea’s head coach ahead of next season – views Mount as a ‘key’ figure and is keen to hand the academy graduate a prominent role in his plans.
The Argentine is confident that Mount is well-suited to his tactical demands and admires the midfielder’s game both in and out of possession. Mount has been named as Chelsea’s Player of the Season in each of the last two campaigns and has scored 33 goals in 195 appearances for the senior side.
Negotiations over a new contract stalled earlier this season with Mount requesting a deal that reflected his importance to the squad, as Chelsea spent record-breaking sums on new signings. Chelsea could be forced into a sale should a new deal not be agreed before the summer, given the risk of losing Mount on a free transfer in 2024.
