Arsenal make huge Mason Mount summer transfer decision as Chelsea handed Declan Rice warning

Chelsea will have a battle on their hands to keep hold of Mason Mount this summer after Arsenal’s latest transfer decision.

Mount is out of contract next summer and a decision is set to be made over his future at Chelsea as the club begin to adapt to their new contract policy of not allowing players to enter the final year of their deal.

Talks have been held with the 24-year-old already this season but Todd Boehly and Co have been unable to find an agreement with the England international.

Interest is growing in Mount and clubs are starting to also grow in confidence they can lure him away from Stamford Bridge. Liverpool and Manchester United have shown strong interest in the Chelsea star, while Arsenal are emerging as a serious option, according to reports.

David Ornstein of The Athletic now reports that the Gunners, who will finish in second place in the Premier League this season, ‘want to add creativity in a more advanced position and that has fuelled the pursuit of Mason Mount’.

Mikel Arteta’s side are claimed to be ‘determined’ to sign Mount and Declan Rice, who is also of interest to Chelsea, this summer.

Incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino is a big fan of Mount and wants him to remain in west London as part of his rebuild this summer, with an overhaul planned to trim the bloated 30-plus man squad down to around 24 or 25 players.

Mount, like many others this summer, will have their futures resolved one way or another as Chelsea look to avoid a repeat of a disappointing 2022/23 season next term.

Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has warned the Blues hierarchy against letting Mount depart, telling BoyleSports about Premier League betting: “When you talk about identity, you cannot help but talk about Mason Mount, or Reece James. They both came from the academy and everyone knows how hard it is to come from Chelsea’s academy into the first team.

“As a Chelsea fan, I want Mount to stay at the club, but we also have to be realistic about the market and I want both parties to get what they want.

“Mason Mount is still a young player that can be developed, who is yet to reach his full potential in football. Even though he has already been successful, I think he can improve and I hope he does that at Chelsea, where he belongs.”