Chelsea have swiftly rejected a £40m bid from Manchester United for Mason Mount.
The Old Trafford club firmed up their interest in midfielder Mount on Wednesday but their opening offer has fallen well short of Chelsea’s price tag, with the Londoners wanting at least £70m for the 24 year-old.
Mount has just one year left on his contract at his boyhood club after talks over an extension since last summer failed to result in an agreement.
He is keen on a move to United, giving them further encouragement, though they will need to significantly improve their offer to tempt Chelsea to sell and land one of Erik Ten Hag’s priority targets.
Mount was a long-term target for Liverpool but Mail Sport reported on United’s plans to win the race for his signature last month.
Chelsea have rejected Man United’s £40m bid for Mason Mount, who they value at £70m
Erik ten Hag’s side will bid again, however, and are determined to land the England star
Todd Boehly could still be willing to part ways with Mount if the right offer arrives
Mount’s potential departure could be part of a major midfield overhaul at Chelsea.
Mateo Kovacic is on course for a move to Manchester City, N’Golo Kante on the verge of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad and Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek also wanted.
Chelsea are interested in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and talks have also been held over a summer move for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, who they have expressed interest in in each of the last two windows.
Meanwhile, Inter will have to make permanent moves in order to sign Romelu Lukaku or Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Italians are keen on both Chelsea players, along with defender Trevoh Chalobah.
Mail Sport understands Inter have already been informed that Chalobah is not available on an initial loan and the Londoners also have no interest in letting the Champions League runners up take either striker Lukaku or defender Koulibaly on temporary deals.
Lukaku spent last season on loan at Inter while Chelsea are open to offloading Koulibaly after just one year at Stamford Bridge following his move last summer from Napoli.
Inter Milan are interested in signing Trevoh Chalobah but have been told he is not available for a loan deal
Inter are, meanwhile, looking to sign Romelu Lukaku (left) and Kalidou Koulibaly (right)
Inter’s interest in Chelsea’s players comes as the former have the Serie A side’s Andre Onana as one of their leading goalkeeper targets.
AC Milan’s Mike Maignan has also been looked at though it is thought that Chelsea’s lack of European football would represent an obstacle.
Brighton’s Robert Sanchez, who was mentored into a Premier League goalkeeper by Chelsea coach Ben Roberts, and Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili are two others who have also been considered.
Resolving the futures of their two most senior goalkeepers Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy is a priority for Chelsea and whether they find any takers will impact their plans for the position with the prospect of new head coach Mauricio Pochettino starting the season with the Spaniard not ruled out.
