Chelsea 'put contract talks with Mason Mount ON HOLD'
Chelsea ‘put contract talks with Mason Mount ON HOLD’ to focus on their on-the-field problems, as Liverpool push hard to sign him with a significant gap between player and club over wages
- Chelsea have paused contract negotiations with Mason Mount until the summer
- He has yet to agree a new deal at Stamford Bridge amid interest from Liverpool
- The midfielder is believed to be on almost four times less than Raheem Sterling
Negotiations between Chelsea and Mason Mount over a fresh contract at Stamford Bridge have been put on hold until the summer, according to reports.
Chelsea, whose miserable season suffered yet another setback after Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Southampton, are still keen to pen a new deal with the England star as his current contract expires in the summer of 2024.
The Blues chiefs have reportedly tabled several offers but have yet to reach an agreement with Mount, who remains one of the lowest paid players at the club.
The England international is believed to want to treble his £80,000-a-week wages, which would put him in line with the other senior players and new signings.
It was reported last summer that Mount earns approximately a quarter of what fellow England international Raheem Sterling brings in every week.
Negotiations between Chelsea and Mason Mount over a new contract have been ‘put on hold’
A significant gap exists between Mason Mount’s demands and Chelsea’s current proposal
The midfielder’s contract situation has since attracted a glut of suitors ahead of the summer window, with Liverpool expressing interest in particular as Sportsmail reported last week.
Although keen to secure Mount’s long-term future at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have paused negotiations with the playmaker in an effort to focus on results between now and the end of the season, according to The Athletic.
This decision could well hand Liverpool – and any other interested parties – a boost in their pursuit of the 24-year-old.
Graham Potter’s side sit 10th in the Premier League and are at risk of missing out on European football altogether next season.
Moreover, Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund and could well be eliminated from the competition at the start of next month.
Mount will have 12 months left on his deal when Chelsea relaunch contract talks at the end of the season.
The Blues could be at risk of losing Mount in the same way as Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, who both played out the final year of their contract so that they could leave Stamford Bridge on free transfers.
Christensen teamed up with Barcelona while Rudiger joined LaLiga and Champions League winners Real Madrid.
It is believed Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are preparing to launch a pursuit of Mount this summer
Potter hopes Mount’s contract talks ‘resolve quickly’ as he is an ‘important player’ at Chelsea
Meanwhile, American co-owner Todd Boehly splashed approximately £600million during his first two transfer windows at the helm, revamping Potter’s side with the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Benoit Badiashile in January.
When asked about Mount’s contract situation earlier this month, Potter said: ‘It is always complicated, there’s always negotiations. It is best that I leave it between Mason and the club.
‘It is the best way for that to be dealt with. As far as I am concerned, he is fantastic to work with.
‘He is an important player for us. I hope it gets resolved quickly.’
Mount is understood to be on almost four times less than England team-mate Raheem Sterling
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