Manchester United seem to have now pulled out of their move for Mason Mount.
While they could yet go back in and sign the Englishman because it could well be a media briefing to force Chelsea into letting Mount go, the situation is currently at a standstill.
Even though United are about two weeks away from pre-season training to start and they could start it without a new signing, the decision to back away from Mount is a sensible one. United fans would have loved the sight of the 24-year-old scoring against his former club at Stamford Bridge but egos aside, the move probably never made proper sense for a high price.
That is not a criticism of the player that Mount is. He has had some disappointing months but his base player profile will always remain the same. And a few bad seasons don’t make anyone a bad player. But United, amidst a drawn-out takeover situation aren’t awash with finances. Their two priorities this summer are the goalkeeping situation and the striker situation, with targets for those two positions not expected to be cheap.
All of the club’s striker targets – Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen, Goncalo Ramos and the exciting Rasmus Højlund, are worth atleast €60 million. And only Rasmus Højlund might be available at that base amount, implying that the others could cost above €100 million. Then there is the goalkeeping situation that needs to be resolved, with André Onana, David Raya and Diogo Costa expected to cost atleast about €40 million.
Understand Chelsea have just rejected Manchester United third bid for Mason Mount. 🚨🔴 #MUFC
It hasn’t met Chelsea valuation — as Chelsea counter offer is £58+7m to get it done.
Chelsea have also offered to meet in person to resolve in everyone’s interests.
More to follow. pic.twitter.com/ODt4eZIdCf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 23, 2023
United will essentially shell out at least €150 million to fix two positions – at least. And those two are priority situations and the failure to six the goalkeeping spot will make sure that Erik ten Hag’s project will not take off. United could lose atleast two midfielders, with Marcel Sabitzer having left already. And that will make the midfield spot a desperate one to fix.
United need atleast one press-resistant midfielder deeper in midfield; someone who can help the side play through the opposition press. Ten Hag’s side struggled with that aspect last season but Mount doesn’t fit that role. Romeo Lavia does and perhaps, Moises Caicedo does too.
That leaves the issue of a right-sided midfielder to be fixed. Throughout his career, Mount has usually been fairly left-sided and he is an advanced midfielder who operates in the half-spaces. His trait of operating in the half spaces and his excellent pressing off the ball is a very vital trait for a Ten Hag player but it would require him to do the same things on the right side.
It is a slight mismatch and for that mismatch, United can’t shell out a €60 million fee. Even Donny van de Beek, who was a mismatch for what the club wanted at that point, wasn’t that expensive and that move hasn’t gone well either. This isn’t to say that Mount could prove to be a similar case as Van de Beek but there is a likelihood that he doesn’t end up playing at his best for that role.
They do need midfielders – pretty desperately, but Mount’s profile might not be perfect for the club.
Even otherwise, United have been taken for a ride in the market by multiple clubs in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Giving up on Mount will signal the fact that it can’t go on anymore.
