Man Utd are refusing to negotiate with Chelsea over a deal for Mason Mount while they put a ‘United tax’ on their valuation of the midfielder, according to reports.
The Red Devils have now had three offers turned down by the Blues for the England international with Man Utd’s latest bid worth around £55m.
It is understood that Chelsea are looking for £57m plus another £8m in potential add-ons, taking the deal up to £65m – but reports emerged over the weekend describing Man Utd as ‘unhappy’ with Chelsea’s negotiations.
The report said that Man Utd football director John Murtough has ‘taken a dim view of Chelsea’s strategy of communicating United’s bids through the club’s dedicated correspondents in London’.
And now BBC Sport‘s Simon Stone has claimed that Man Utd have made the point to Chelsea that their valuation of Mount is “out of line” with their purchase of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City last summer.
On Chelsea’s asking price, Stone wrote: “United feel this is too much and out of line with Chelsea’s own £50m transfer of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City last summer.
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“Like Mount now, Sterling had one year left on his contract at the time.
“Given Mount’s wishes – and the knowledge personal terms would not be a problem – United feel their offer is a fair one and Chelsea are adding an additional amount purely because they feel the Old Trafford outfit will pay it.
“United sources are adamant that is not the case and while Mount remains at the top of their list of targets, are willing to start looking at alternative options.
“This could involve disrupting Chelsea’s attempts to sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo by making an offer of their own.”
Former Tottenham defender Stephen Kelly thinks it will “be a better outcome for both sides” once Mount has left Chelsea for Man Utd this summer.
“He is only going to be worth what United are willing to spend on him,” Kelly told BBC Sport. “You would think a deal around £55-60m would be something both teams could get on board with him.
“Of course, he’s an English player so that put an extra percentage onto the price. Plus, there is always a sense of not wanting a player you have developed to go for anything less that what he is worth.
“But he has made his mind up and wants to force the situation. I don’t think there will be long left – it will be a better outcome for both sides when he has gone.”
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