Chelsea star Mason Mount insists he won’t be distracted by contract talks at the club
Chelsea star Mason Mount won’t be distracted by the contract talks at the club and the uncertainty around his future as he aims to fight for a spot in the England team for the World Cup (Evening Standard).
The 23-year-old, who has 18 months left in his contract with the Blues, hasn’t signed an extension yet. According to the Guardian, Liverpool and Juventus are tracking him as his contract talks have been dragged on since the summer till after the World Cup with no breakthrough yet.
The Chelsea hierarchy has no intention of letting him go, but the initial salary offer fell below the player’s expectations. Hence, there are no guarantees that an agreement will be reached.
Talking about cutting the noise about his future and focusing on football, here’s Mount (h/t Evening Standard):
“I have always been so focused on my football since I was in the academy [speculation about his future].
“I know now there is a lot more media focus on me, but I do not look too much into that. I block it out.
“You also have leaders who step up in the big games and, as a player, that is always something I want to do and what I want to be. I want to lead and play a big part. But we are all together in this tournament. If you start or don’t start, you want to come on and have an impact, be good around the boys.”
England have a potentially tough group in the World Cup with Wales, Iran and the USA in it. They would need to be at their best to qualify, let alone win the group. Mount, with his creative spark, could prove to be the difference-maker in the games for Gareth Southgate’s men. The 23-year-old will be up against clubmate Christian Pulisic in the USA game.
Mount has been one of the best players at Chelsea in the last 2-3 years. Since his successful loan spell at Derby County in 2018/19, he has developed into one of the elite attacking midfielders in the game.
The Blues would be naïve to let him go, be it in the summer or next year. It is kind of a no-brainer that the club accepts the demands of the player and convinces him to sign a new contract.
More Chelsea News:
- Former USMNT striker gives verdict on Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic and him potentially playing for Real Madrid
- Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso wants Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi to stay till the end of the season
- Liverpool and Juventus track Mason Mount after Chelsea contract stand-off
From the player’s perspective, he is doing the right thing by focusing on England and the World Cup. The chance to impress on the world stage does not come along very often and it is in his best interests to take it and leave the rest for later.