Man Utd risk Mount repeat with UNNECESSARY signing

29 Mar 2024 06:55 GMT
4 min read

Mason Mount’s move from Chelsea to Manchester United has not worked out one bit.

The former England international has been perennially injured since joining the Red Devils, making just 13 appearances in all competitions this season, and there are severe doubts over whether he will be included in Erik ten Hag’s preferred starting XI even when fully fit.

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Mount, 24, is a very talented player and he played a key role in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph under Thomas Tuchel, but his confidence appeared drained during the final months of his career at Stamford Bridge and his start to life at Old Trafford couldn’t have gone much worse.

The emergence of Kobbie Mainoo has also increased speculation regarding Mount’s place at Man Utd.

The teenage sensation is one of the most exciting youngsters in world football and is now a nailed on starter in Man Utd’s midfield. The problem is that Mainoo isn’t yet an assured presence as a lone number six and must play in a double pivot alongside Casemiro.

With Bruno Fernandes ahead of those two, there’s simply no place for Mount. Furthermore, Amadou Onana is being targeted as a Casemiro replacement and the Everton midfielder would naturally walk into Man Utd’s starting XI if he arrives this summer.

Of course, there were doubts over whether Fernandes and Mount could coexist in the same Man Utd midfield when the Englishman joined from Chelsea, but Ten Hag was convinced he could make it work with Casemiro deployed as a single pivot.

That plan failed miserably during the opening few weeks of the season as the veteran Brazilian was left far too isolated in midfield and Man Utd were bypassed time and time again.

Mount already looks to be a luxury substitute option at Old Trafford, yet the Red Devils are reportedly interested in signing Dani Olmo this summer, as per The Daily Mail, despite the fact he would face a similar problem.

Dani Olmo to Man Utd?

Olmo is a fantastic player and while he can operate as a winger, he is at his best when deployed as an attacking midfielder. However, if he joins Man Utd then he will encounter the same problem as Mount before his injury: Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese international is club captain at Man Utd and he is a guaranteed starter in the No.10 position. Mount was unable to oust him at the beginning of the season and with Mainoo now the golden boy of Old Trafford, there is only room for a defensive-minded midfield next to the pair.

Olmo doesn’t fit that brief, meaning he would likely be forced out to the right flank in order to find consistent minutes if he joins Man Utd. The Spaniard is perfectly capable of this, but the Red Devils also want to sign Michael Olise and the Frenchman is arguably a better right wing prospect given the fact it’s his natural position.

FootballTransfers understand that Chelsea are also keen on adding Olmo to their squad, as a possible replacement for Conor Gallagher, while Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked in the past.

However, a move to Man Utd simply doesn’t make sense and isn’t something the Red Devils or Olmo himself should pursue.