Mason Mount must make a "difficult" decision about his future at Chelsea, according to Frank Lampard, since there is still some doubt over whether he would join a Premier League competitor after Manchester United made him a top summer transfer target.
Despite becoming a fan favorite after moving up the ranks at the team he joined at the age of six, midfielder Mount is about to enter the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge and now seems increasingly likely to leave at the end of the current campaign.
A new deal has been discussed for the most of the season by Mount and Chelsea officials, but no agreement has been reached. As a result, United, Arsenal, and Liverpool are all interested in the England international.
But Lampard, who gave Mount his first-team debut in 2019 when managing the Blues for the first time, has declined to offer advise to his player and has instead acknowledged that the promising 24-year-old may decide to leave the club in the current deadlock.
He told Sky Sports, "I think it is a difficult situation."
Because they have been in the academy since they were eight years old, Mason and other boys I worked with while I was here before have either gone on to become incredibly key players for the club and have a real relationship with the supporters.
And some of them have moved on to other clubs, which has helped the club succeed. You wished them luck in their careers as they moved on.
"I don't know what the solution is going to be with Mason specifically, as an individual, because it's a club and Mason issue," the speaker said.
I'm not really sure where Mason is at right now. He must remain
regarded in great regard within the club, and I am aware that the club is making every effort to keep him.
But I believe that Mason would agree that I would never stand here and advise a player on what to do in the present because they would witness everything for themselves.
"Why are you leaving the club?" was the standard question in the past. Players in the current era move on. It's unfortunate that we've come to a point where it appears to be happening perhaps right now.
If no extension is reached, Mount will be entitled to start talks with other clubs at the beginning of the following year. But in order to avoid the prospect of losing one of their best assets for nothing, Chelsea might try to sell him this summer.
According to yesterday's report from Mail Sport, United will make a £55 million bid for Mount, who is the manager Erik ten Hag's top priority for the upcoming season.
Old Trafford insiders claim that negotiations are about to start, although United wants to pay a sum that is £30 million less than Chelsea's high asking price of £85 million.
Declan Rice, a midfielder for West Ham, is also a target for United. It is believed that a transfer fee of about £100 million would be sufficient to persuade his club to let him go.
Arsenal, however, is said to be the most sophisticated in their quest.
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