Man Utd’s Potential Transfer Déjà Vu: History Repeating Itself with £80m Midfield Target
If Manchester United spends a large transfer fee to get Mason Mount to Old Trafford, they risk repeating their Harry Maguire error.
The England midfielder has a year left on his Chelsea contract and is anticipated to leave rather than agree to fresh terms or leave for free in a year. He has agreed to personal terms with United, but the teams have yet to agree on a fair cost.
However, with a reputed asking price of £80 million, Mirror columnist Stan Collymore believes that “jack of all trades” Mount is overpriced and insufficient to turn Erik ten Hag’s club into a title contender.
“If I was calling the recruitment shots at Manchester United, I’d be steering well clear of paying north of £80m for Mason Mount,” Collymore said.
“He is rated highly by the coaches who have worked with him for his work-rate and enthusiasm. But I don’t see him as a player who can bring a team closer to titles.
“He gets away with a lot because he’s won the Champions League with Chelsea and is nice and smiley. But take away him being a nice, homegrown kid, and dig deeper into his game you see he’s a jack of all trades, master of none.
“If he was available for £40m, then I’d bite Chelsea’s hands off. But at the price being talked about, there is a whiff of United repeating their Harry Maguire mistake again.
“United saw Virgil van Dijk join Liverpool for £75m and thought that was the going rate for first-class centre backs. That, plus Leicester digging their heels in, meant they then paid over the odds to sign Maguire. And we all know how badly that’s worked out.”
Collymore believes Manchester City’s interest in Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic is telling, while Liverpool is interested in Brighton’s Alexis MacAllister. In addition, he is dubious of Mount’s optimum role.
“What exactly is Mount?” He’s a solid player, but he lacks the defensive prowess and creativity required from midfield. And I don’t think he’s done enough to be considered a main man.
“He’s a player who can supplement what you have.” He’ll do the work and make things happen, but has he done enough for his club or country to be considered the key man? No, I don’t believe so.
“By comparison Liverpool are looking at Alexis Mac Allister who is a World Cup winner, can get past people with the blink of an eye and also get back to make a nuisance. If he is available for £60m, I can see the value for that.
“Another £20m for Mason Mount? That’s not good value. I’d be looking at Moises Caicedo as an alternative or maybe even Conor Gallagher at a cheaper price.
“The fact Manchester City aren’t interested shows you that Mount’s not at the required standard.”
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