Chelsea ready to give Mason Mount big pay rise as they open contract talks
Chelsea are aiming to end doubts over Mason Mount’s future after opening formal talks with the midfielder over a new long-term deal.
Mount’s contract expires at the end of next season but Chelsea are determined not to lose the 23-year-old, who would attract offers from Europe’s biggest teams if he came on to the market, and are prepared to make him one of the club’s highest earners.
Mount’s last deal put him on about £75,000 a week but the England international has been one of Chelsea’s best players since breaking into the first team three years ago and his efforts are likely to be rewarded. Chelsea’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, recently handed Reece James a new sixyear deal worth about £150,000 a week and they will look to do similar with the right-back’s fellow academy graduate.
It is believed that Mount will demand similar money to James.
Mount is in no hurry to leave Chelsea, but he will want Boehly and Clearlake to prove how much they value him.
The importance of keeping Mount is not lost on Chelsea. He has been their player of the season for two years running and provided the assist for Kai Havertz’s winner when Chelsea beat Manchester City in the Champions League final in 2021.
Managers admire Mount for his work on and off the ball. He was brought into the side by Frank Lampard, who has described him as a future Chelsea captain, and flourished under Thomas Tuchel. Gareth Southgate also sees Mount as a key player for England because of his pressing.
Mount scored an excellent goal after coming off the bench during England’s recent 3-3 draw with Germany and although he had a rare dip at the start of the season he has rediscovered his form since Chelsea replaced Tuchel with Graham Potter last month.