AHEAD OF THE GAME

MOUNT COUNTS £10m COST OF TURNING DOWN CHELSEA DEAL

Mason Mount has missed out on about £10million in lost earnings as a result of his decision to play hard-ball with Chelsea over a new contract. the England midfielder remains in deadlock with the club over the terms of a new contract and could be sold when he enters the final 12 months of his deal at the end of the season, with Manchester united the latest club to join Liverpool and newcastle in monitoring the situation closely.

Chelsea’s latest offer of about £170,000 a week is very similar the £100,000 weekly pay-rise Mount was offered by the Roman abramovich regime two years ago.

Had Mount signed that deal he would have been in a position to negotiate a renewal on increased terms this summer. Wherever he ends up, the 24-year-old is unlikely to recoup the earnings he has missed out on over the last two years.