Chelsea have knocked down a £40 million bid from Manchester United for midfielder Mason Mount, according to reports.
Mount has so far refused to extend his contract at Stamford Bridge and is nearing the end of his agreement, with Chelsea willing to sell this summer if their asking price of roughly £70 million is satisfied.
United are keen to get Mount to Old Trafford but does not share Chelsea’s assessment of the 24-year-old, who is free to depart at the end of the season.
According to sources, Manchester United made a £40 million bid to Chelsea, which was promptly rejected.
If United would not agree to Chelsea’s £70 million asking price, Chelsea is willing to keep Mount past the summer.
The Red Devils are anticipated to return with an improved offer that may be closer to £50 million, but they are hesitant to go that high and would require Chelsea to decrease their asking price to finalize a deal.
United officials are hopeful that Chelsea would eventually reduce their expectations, but Blues sources are emphatic that they won’t be forced into selling Mount for a bargain price.
Mauricio Pochettino, the incoming manager of Chelsea, has made it clear that he wants to keep Mount at Stamford Bridge, but negotiations for an extension have stalled, and United is one of a few teams eager to capitalize on the uncertainty.
Arsenal is one of the many suitors for Mount, and they’ve also gotten in touch with Chelsea about forward Kai Havertz.
Although the Gunners have not yet made an official offer for Havertz, it is believed that Chelsea and Arsenal place a much higher value on the player than United and Mount did.