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Mason Mount could decision to join Liverpool could be inspired by Philippe Coutinho.
Mason Mount could decision to join Liverpool could be inspired by Philippe Coutinho.
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is reported to be moving to Liverpool this summer. Philippe Coutinho, a former Reds star, may have indirectly influenced Mount’s decision.
Mount, has yet to agree to a new contract at Stamford Bridge, which expires in the summer of 2024, despite negotiations between the two parties.
The 24-year-old, a product of the Blues academy, was reported to have resumed discussions with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly in April according to The Evening Standard.
The club’s unwillingness to pay Mount the same salary as Reece James, who agreed to sign a new contract last year, is reportedly one of the factors contributing to the contract standoff. It is also claimed that the expected time frame and the associated contract provisions created issues.
If Mount does decide to end his 18-year association with the Blues this summer, Liverpool are one of the contenders to sign him, along wwith Bayern Munich.
Mason Mount (Getty Images)
But Football Insider claim that Chelsea are growing more confident he will stay, due to the anticipated appointment of former Tottenham and Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino.
However, Mount could essentially replicate a decision made by Pochettino’s former players this summer.
The Sun reported in 2017 that Coutinho came very close to joining Southampton before moving from Inter Milan to Liverpool in January 2013.
The same source added that Pochettino, who was recently named as Saints manager and managed the Brazilian when on loan at Espanyol the season before, was a major force behind the transfer.
And former Southampton chief executive Nicola Cortese told talkSPORT’s Jim White that he had agreed a fee with Inter to sign Coutinho, only for Liverpool to come in with a late offer.
The attacking midfielder chose Liverpool over Southampton because of the possibility of playing regularly in Europe.
This time around, Mount is faced with a similar dilemma that strangely might involve Pochettino. If the Argentine does sign with Chelsea, he has the managerial skills to be successful, but he will have to deal with a large squad and a potentially extended transition period before assembling his best starting lineup.
Chelsea won’t compete in Europe either next season, and they may have a difficult time getting into the 2024/25 tournaments.
Meanwhile, Liverpool is now practically assured of playing in the Europa League at the very least next season. Instead of having a less favourable outcome, Mount might be a part of a smaller-scale Reds makeover that could see them potentially fight for the Premier League crown next season.
In other news,Transfer news: After Alexis MacAllister, Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool make contact to sign £40m Defender
