EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea justify £85m Mount price tag as Liverpool fear Man Utd bidding war

Jacque Talbot

Liverpool do not wish to become embroiled in a bidding war with Manchester United over Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, FootballTransfers can reveal.

Mount’s future at Stamford Bridge has been in doubt for some months with his contract set to expire in 2024 and a lack of playing time frustrating him.

Liverpool have been credited with a long-term interest in the 24-year-old but have fears over his price tag, which Chelsea have set at £85 million, we can confirm. They have already held talks with the player and have done a good deal of legwork in terms of selling their project to the former Derby County loanee.

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Adding to the problems of Jurgen Klopp’s side is the prospect of Man Utd taking an interest in the England star.

FootballTransfers understands that Erik ten Hag’s side do carry a genuine wish to sign Mount and that their appearance linking them with a move is not simply a tactic to force the Reds into a premature or inflated transfer deal.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are set to baulk at the prospect of going head-to-head in a bidding war with United over Mount. We are informed that there is a chance that Liverpool make a move instead for Ajax's Mohammed Kudus, someone they looked at in January and who would be available for almost half the price.

Meanwhile, there are some personnel who believe that Liverpool will still pounce should Jude Bellingham’s transfer to Real Madrid breaks down This is something that the Merseyside club have not given up entire hope of yet, but a move to Spain still looks the most likely for the England international.

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Why Chelsea value Mount at £85m

Chelsea have put an asking price of £85m on the head of Mount, which has shocked fans of Liverpool and Man Utd in terms of its size.

The Stamford Bridge side, meanwhile, see Mount as symbolic of the club, having come through their academy, and are eager not to part with him, particularly to a rival Premier League club. This is the justification for what is seen as an inflated price.

FootballTransfers gives Mount an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of £62m (€72m), with a top-end valuation of £78m (€90m), suggesting that Chelsea’s asking price is indeed more than he is worth.

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