Liverpool may have to pay at least £122m to sign Mount from Chelsea

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Liverpool could end up forking out as much as £122million to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea this summer, as the Reds’ interest in the England midfielder has been well-documented. Jurgen Klopp’s outfit may require an overhaul in the middle of the pitch before next season and Mount has less than 18 months left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, prompting their interest in the Blues’ academy star.

Negotiations have reportedly been paused between Mount and the Chelsea hierarchy over a dispute regarding his salary, as the 24-year-old is hoping to be paid in line with several of Todd Boehly’s new signings. He is aiming to become one of the highest earners in the club but the two parties are expected to resume talks at the end of the season after a standstill.

With Chelsea looking to avoid Premier League sanctions over their financial records, several players could be offloaded in the summer – including Mount if a new contract cannot be agreed upon. Liverpool are said to hold a long-standing interest in Mount, as several years ago when the midfielder made his England debut, Klopp declared that he was worth at least £60m.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, Chelsea appear to agree with Klopp as according to The Athletic they have placed a £70m price tag on his head for any club that wishes to sign Mount this summer.

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It is an ambitious fee for a player that could leave on a free transfer the following year, but Boehly has been willing to spend since his arrival and turning down any transfer offers to keep Mount for another year could be a possibility.

Reports have suggested that Mount wants to paid similarly to his team-mate Reece James, who signed a new six-year deal in September thought to be worth around £250,000-a-week. If his demands are rejected, he could move to Anfield if Liverpool spend the required £70m and pay him close to James’ figure at around £200,000-a-week.

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If Mount is handed a five-year contract at Liverpool then that would amount to £52m across the five years, excluding bonuses. It would be a huge outlay from Liverpool and a signal of intent from the current ownership group, as supporters are aware that money needs to be spent this summer.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita set to depart on free transfers at the end of the season and James Milner possibly following, Thiago’s continuous fitness woes and the backwards step that both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have made, Liverpool have struggled in the middle third of the pitch this season.

Jude Bellingham has been outlined as a top target alongside Mount, though the Reds face significant competition from the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid. However, with the Borussia Dortmund star tipped to go for over £100m this summer, Mount may prove just as costly if Chelsea stick to their valuation.

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