Liverpool want Mount, but Man Utd are a better fit

Mason Mount’s career at Chelsea has hit a brick wall this season and he is contemplating a summer departure from his boyhood club. 

Even with the Blues encountering their worst Premier League season in the 21st century, the 24-year-old has been unable to retain his place in the starting XI.

Only a year is left to run on his contract at Stamford Bridge, and with extension talks coming to a standstill, Chelsea are open to selling Mount in the coming months.

Liverpool in pole position, but it doesn’t make sense

According to the Telegraph, Anfield is the most probable landing for Mount if he decides to sever ties with Chelsea, with Liverpool seeking midfield reinforcements this summer.

The Reds bid farewell to James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita this summer, while Arthur Melo will return to Juventus after his embarrassing loan spell.

Faced with an imminent midfield exodus, Jurgen Klopp is desperate to sign Mount and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister.

But the question is – does it make sense for Liverpool to invest heavily in repairing the engine room?

Klopp can already choose between Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Stefan Bajcetic, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Fabio Carvalho and Cody Gakpo to cover the three designated midfield spots in his 4-3-3 formation.

That’s not to mention the German has started deploying Trent Alexander-Arnold as the inverted full-back, courtesy of his well-documented passing range and playmaking skills. 

The three outgoing players have combined for 1,432 minutes in the Premier League this season, with none playing a significant role in Klopp’s set-up. 

Mac Allister’s switch from Brighton seems a mere formality after the Reds recently accelerated their efforts to bring the 2022 World Cup winner to Anfield. 

The Argentine’s potential move to Merseyside would increase the traffic in Klopp’s already bloated midfield department, which makes even less sense to proceed with their pursuit of Mount. 

Where should Mount go?

Despite recent claims suggesting ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel wants a reunion with Mount at Bayern Munich, the move looks far-fetched for various reasons.

Tuchel may not last long at the Allianz Stadium after tarnishing Julian Nagelsmann’s legacy in less than two months, which may lead to a trophyless season.

Given the Bavarians’ high standards, the German manager could wave goodbye to Munich as soon as the curtain drops on the 2022/23 Bundesliga season. 

Most English youngsters generally choose to nurture their skills and develop as players in the Premier League.

On that basis, Mount’s future should be in England, potentially with Manchester United.

Unlike Liverpool, Erik ten Hag could use some midfield reinforcements amid the Red Devils’ bid to offload several underperforming players, including Fred, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek. 

Senior stars Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have done the heavy lifting during the Dutchman’s first season at Old Trafford, but a lack of strength in depth remains a glaring issue. 

Ten Hag must address the shortage of reliable midfield options in the summer transfer window to close the gap on perennial Premier League champions Manchester City next term.

Mount’s versatility would not only enable Man Utd to get rid of the aforementioned fringe players but would also boost the Red Devils’ firepower behind the lone striker in ten Hag’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

Equally well-versed in covering multiple positions alongside the frontline, the Englishman could also battle with Bruno Fernandes, Antony and Sancho for one of the three places higher up the pitch.

There’s no doubt that Man United can offer Mount significantly more playing time than Liverpool, which could ultimately tip the scales in their favour.