News
“I wish him the best” – Lampard sends Mount Chelsea message as Man United move preferred
Frank Lampard has wished Mason Mount the best for the future after commenting on the midfielder’s future at Chelsea.
The 24-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at Chelsea and no advances have been made on a renewal at Stamford Bridge.
No significant talks have taken place since February and rival Premier League clubs have started to make strong moves to try to sign the England international, who is valued at around £70 million according to reports.
Mount is wanted by Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United this summer. It’s claimed by The Athletic that Mount is leaning towards a move to Old Trafford if Chelsea agree to sell him.
Man United are preparing a £55 million bid, according to Sami Mokbel, but could increase their offer closer to Chelsea’s valuation should the Blues reject their initial offer as Erik ten Hag eyes a swift agreement.
Mount is recovering from a pelvic injury and it remains unclear whether he will feature in either of the final two games of the season against Man United and Newcastle United this week.
Lampard was quizzed about whether or not he felt Mount was a lost cause and had played his final game for the club. He replied: “A lost cause? I don’t know. That’s not my answer to make. That’s between Mason and the club.”
Chelsea haven’t lost all hope of keeping Mount but it is becoming increasingly doubtful that he will extend his stay in west London, with the club ready to sell him if they are unable to agree a contract extension.
On whether Lampard was surprised at Mount’s situation where it’s got to the point of him potentially leaving, the interim boss was unable to make a strong comment but insisted nothing surprises him in football.
As quoted by Scott Trotter, he said: “I don’t think surprise in football is the word for these things as a lot of things can happen and I wasn’t involved in any of this. So you know that’s not the word I would use. And it’s a really hard one for me to comment on because I’m not inside Mason’s head or even from the club’s point of view, my role was clearly what it is.
“So as I said, I’m not surprised because this is football. Does everyone know that? I really like Mason Mount as a lad and a football player. Yes, sure. Of course, they do. So I wish him the best personally and obviously sitting here with my Chelsea top on now I’ve seen what Mason’s delivered in this club but then we’ll see.”
He added: “I think to be fair to this club in the last few years particularly we’ve seen the hard work of the academy for a long, long time. People like Neil Bath and Jim Fraser have come through and been very good and now delivered in terms of people that affected the team or have been sold on for big money so I think that’s been a real positive.
“It’s important that we try and keep that feeling that younger players can see a pathway, get into the Chelsea team and play for the team they grow to love, which is Mason, which is Reece James etc. So of course in an ideal world I think that those players stay with the club but again, the modern football world isn’t always clear. And again, where I’m not part of this one, but I want to comment much more than that.”