GRAHAM POTTER has admitted that Mason Mount’s potential exit from Chelsea is not in his control.
The Blues midfielder has been linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge, with former manager Thomas Tuchel keen on a reunion at Bayern Munich.
Mount, 24, is entering the final year of his deal with the club and will be able to leave for free after the 2023/24 season.
But Potter has distanced himself from the decision over the player’s future.
He said: “I have nothing but positive things to say about Mason.
“He has been brilliant, supportive, but it’s between him and the club about how they can sort out the situation.
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“It’s about the player, the club… lots of things that I’m not in control of”.
Mount has had a frustrating season for Chelsea, having only scored three times and assisted two goals in the Premier League this season.
Following the decline in his form, the Blues have been reluctant to meet the player’s wage demands that would put him among the squad’s top earners.
According to reports, Chelsea have set a £70million price tag on Mount.
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Tuchel and Mount enjoyed a good working relationship while at Chelsea together.
Liverpool and Manchester United have also been linked with interest in the England international.
After the Blues announced losses of £121m in the latest financial year, a mass clearout is expected, with Mount one player touted to lead the exodus.
This clearout could see the likes of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Romelu Lukaku exit the club this summer.
Those six unwanted players’ contracts add up to a staggering £58.5M a year in wages.
Losses of £121m last year make it vital for Todd Boehly to balance the books and keep the Financial Fair Play cops at bay.
The huge wages are referred to as the “Chelsea premium” by club insiders.
Chelsea have run up a bill that could reach £606m, including add-ons and loan fees, on new players since Boehly led an American takeover last spring.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
