Ahead of fresh talks with Manchester United talks, Chelsea want Mason Mount’s future with the club to be resolved by next week.
The 24-year-old is a transfer target for the Red Devils ahead of next season.
The Blues have already turned down three bids from United for the England international – including their most recent offer of £55million – as they are holding out for £65m.
Mount has just a year left on his existing deal and Chelsea are willing to cash in on the midfielder this summer. Yet they do not want the transfer saga to continue rumbling on, with incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino starting work on Monday.
That is when Chelsea’s pre-season campaign starts and Mount is scheduled to report back for training. Pochettino, who is preparing his team for a tour of the United States, does not want to start working with a player, only for him to be sold a week or so later.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Chelsea are eager to get Mount’s future resolved before Pochettino arrives at their Cobham training ground. They will meet with United’s recruitment team to thrash out a deal, expected to be worth between £55m and £65m.
United also want this situation to be resolved after what happened with Frenkie de Jong a year ago. They spent much of last summer trying to sign the Netherlands international – who played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax – from Barcelona, only for him to say no.