Mason Mount may divide opinion among the Chelsea fanbase, but letting him leave would be yet another monumental transfer failure
In one of those peculiar quirks of football fandom in the social media era, Mason Mount – an objectively inoffensive and palatable footballer and person – has become one of Chelsea's most divisive figures.
For more than a year now, Mount has been hailed as a favourite son of the academy by match-going fans at Stamford Bridge, while he is continually vilified by armchair supporters on 'Football Twitter'.
It had previously seemed inconceivable that the 24-year-old would ever leave the club he loves so dearly, but that online abuse has clearly weighed on him amid a drop-off in form this season as he stalls on signing a new contract, purportedly due to his wage demands, and rumours swirl about his future.
Possible financial hardship on the horizon means Chelsea are also motivated to sell, especially following their massive outlay over the past two transfer windows, and it's been reported that they would demand £70 million ($87.5m) for his services.
Liverpool – looking for fresh, high-energy pressing machines to replace their depleted midfield ranks – have been most strongly linked with a move for the tireless Mount, but Chelsea simply cannot repeat the mistake of allowing one of their bright young talents to depart before they have fulfilled their potential.
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The latest reports suggest there is a glimmer of hope that Mount can be brought back onside with the right managerial appointment, and the club will make a final push to keep him. Letting him go could prove catastrophic.
Chelsea can't afford another transfer error
Chelsea have been here before, and they have paid the price big time.
The club's decisions to sign and swiftly abandon prodigious talents such as Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne and, to a lesser extent, Romelu Lukaku live in infamy, as each eventually went on to enjoy stellar careers at the very highest level, with Salah and De Bruyne in particular among the world's best in their respective positions.
That's not to say Mount will necessarily go on to hit those heights, but such a knee-jerk reaction to an off-season in which he has still made nine goal contributions would be ill-advised.
It would also be remiss to strengthen a Premier League rival during their own period of transition, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City all expressing an interest so far.
Chelsea may need funds, but there are plenty of other players in their bloated squad who should be deemed surplus to requirements before the England midfielder. It feels almost inevitable that letting him go would come back to haunt them.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Lampard effect
Whether or not you agree with Frank Lampard's questionable re-appointment as Chelsea manager on an interim basis, one player who stands to benefit is Mount.
Lampard certainly has his faults, but developing young players is one of his fortes. It is undeniable that his protege came on leaps and bounds under his tutelage – developing into the tenacious, front-footed attacking midfielder we are all familiar with today.
With Mount now in dire need of some game time and confidence, the return of the man who gave him his first-team bow is timely.
Speaking in a recent press conference, the manager's admiration for the player was clear: “I’m not going to tell anyone what opinion they should have on football but if anyone thinks Mason Mount is not already a top level player then I’m not sure what they’re seeing, in my opinion.
“Form is one thing that people can debate. There’s players now that get debated about more than we were in my career. It’s partly social media. But from working with Mason, you can ask myself, you can ask Thomas Tuchel, you can ask Gareth Southgate, you can ask Graham Potter, it’s clear he’s a top player."
Now he's fit again and with Graham Potter's tenure consigned to the history books, Mount is in line for some serious minutes during the run-in. Should he rediscover some form under Lampard and remind some sections of the fanbase of his talent, he would be perfectly set up for a fresh start under a new manager next season.
GettyChelsea's Mr. Consistent
Although they consistently fail to score goals, Chelsea could do with some positive consistency at the moment.
Prior to this season, Mount had been the picture of consistency for the Blues since making his first-team breakthrough, showing gradual improvement year on year.
Indeed, he has arguably been Chelsea's best player across the Lampard-Tuchel-Potter-Lampard era, becoming a regular source of goals and assists and coming up trumps on the biggest stage – most notably the 2021 Champions League final, where his inch-perfect pass set up Kai Havertz's winning goal.
It's easy to forget he's still just 24. At his tender age, at this early stage of his career and after the consistency he's shown, Mount can be afforded one off-colour campaign.
(C)Getty ImagesAcademy representation must not be undermined
This has been a golden age for Chelsea's academy, but that is under threat from the ownership's approach of spending big on young players.
It was revealed back in January that the influx of new, young first-team players has set off alarm bells among the agents and parents of current hopefuls at Cobham, with German clubs alerted to their potential availability as they see their dreams of starring for Chelsea dashed.
Concern over the pathway being blocked is completely justified, but those who have already made the breakthrough will be unnerved too – Mount among them.
Plenty of the new arrivals provide direct competition in the various positions he is capable of playing in, and he has been mentioned alongside the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher as Cobham products who could be moved on.
Throughout the Roman Abramovich era, the hierarchy and supporters alike were always desperate to see an academy graduate make their way in the first team, winning trophies and becoming stars in their own right.
Alongside Reece James, Mount has achieved that and should be seen as a beacon of hope for all academy players, as well as a flagbearer in the face of excessive spending.