Man City on alert as Chelsea make £34.6m transfer plan if Mason Mount joins Man United

Chelsea are planning for life without Mason Mount in case he does finalise his transfer to Manchester United.

The 24-year-old is wanted by Erik ten Hag’s side and Man United are ready to hold talks this week with Chelsea to try to resolve the matter after having three bids rejected – the latest being an offer worth £55 million.

Chelsea have countered the Red Devils with £58 million plus £7 million in add-ons, but Man United are reluctant to increase their bid and instead willing to, as reported by the Daily Mail, ‘negotiate around the fringes’ of their latest offer.

Mount, who is keen on a move, is ready to return to Chelsea pre-season if a deal is not agreed between the clubs, but all parties are mindful of not wanting the saga to drag on into pre-season and beyond.

Should Chelsea offload Mount this summer, Mauricio Pochettino’s side are beginning to plan potential alternatives in midfield, an area which has already seen N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz depart.

Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga has been previously linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge and has caught the attention of Manchester City. Veiga has a £34.6 million release clause.

Nizaar Kinsella of the Evening Standard now reports Chelsea are expected to move for Veiga if Mount joins Man United.

Internal discussions are beginning to take place over possible replacements for the England international. Reports in Spain linked Chelsea with Barcelona’s Franck Kessié, with Pochettino a keen admirer.

Veiga, 21, is now Chelsea’s ‘top target’ if they are to bring in another midfielder. A deal for Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion is being worked on, but Mount’s departure will require further reinforcements. It has seen the club become ‘increasingly open to signing a more attacking midfielder’ due to the successful clear-out.

Chelsea are also on the verge of selling Ruben Loftus-Cheek to AC Milan for £15 million plus add-ons.