Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Mason Mount are on Manchester United’s transfer shortlist this summer but it is unlikely they will sign all three.
The three players are thought to be the type of characters that Erik ten Hag wants to add to his dressing room.
Manchester United are in the market for a striker and it’s thought their No.1 target is Kane. United have a long-standing interest in the striker but Spurs do not want to sell and he is contracted to them until next summer.
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Rice will be allowed to leave West Ham for the right price this summer but Arsenal are his most likely destination at the moment. Mount has a year left on his contract and Chelsea still want him to sign a new deal.
United’s transfer strategy will depend on what happens with the takeover and who owns the club. United will be looking to sell as well as signing players over the summer.
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag insists his summer transfer plans will not be affected irrespective of whether there is a change of ownership at the club
Man Utd frontrunners to sign Chelsea’s Mount
United have emerged as the leading contenders to sign Mason Mount – if he leaves Chelsea this summer.
Erik ten Hag’s club are understood to be showing the strongest interest in the England midfielder, ahead of rivals Liverpool.
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They are also understood to have made a number of enquiries over his potential availability this season and have been encouraged by his complicated situation at Stamford Bridge.
Mount’s contract expires in 2024 and – with Chelsea wanting him to stay – there have been talks about a new deal over the course of a difficult campaign on the field for team and player.
Image: Mount came through the academy at Chelsea but could jump ship
The player must fit into the responsible wage structure Chelsea are trying to implement, however, and those discussions have so far not found an agreement.
It has led Liverpool to show interest in Mount, who is being represented by Wasserman’s Neil Fewings, who – among others – represents Virgil van Dijk and Jordan Henderson.
But Manchester United are now believed to have moved ahead of their rivals, with Newcastle also watching the situation closely along with Tottenham.
Mauricio Pochettino is expected to hold talks with Mount after his appointment as Chelsea’s new manager, which may change the dynamic of the situation.
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The Athletic’s football correspondent David Ornstein reports that Manchester United are thought to be in pole position to sign Mount should he leave Chelsea
It remains to be seen whether Pochettino sees the midfielder as being integral to his plans and can influence his decision over whether to recommit to his boyhood club.
But if Mount sees his future elsewhere, Chelsea are prepared to sell him but will demand in excess of £70m for the 24-year-old.
Analysis: Why Mount is in demand
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Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy believes Chelsea’s Mount is worth over £70m and many Premier League managers admire him
Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy:
“Mount offers so much as a midfielder in the No 8 position. There is his dynamism, his runs from deep, but it’s more his work off the ball, how he initiates the press. He wants to get stuck in and help his team-mates, he does a lot of cover work.
“In an attacking sense, I’m told you get an eight out of 10 player in Mount, but in a defensive sense, he’s always nine or 10 out of 10 when it comes to what a manager expects from that No 8 position. Mount is an all-rounded player, and because he’s 24 there’s the feeling he is nowhere near his ceiling yet.
“He is somebody managers feel they can trust, not only to carry out their tactical plan but also to technically execute a number of mechanisms. He is also able to be versatile across those midfield positions.
“It’s not just Erik ten Hag at Manchester United who likes him, you also have Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta who are admirers. It’s because Mount is a player who could drop into any team really because of the dynamic he offers.”
Arsenal have Rice and Mount on midfield shortlist
Arsenal are expected to bid for West Ham captain Rice at the end of the season, with Chelsea’s Mount and Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan among their summer midfield shortlist.
Internal discussions at the Emirates Stadium are continuing over the possibility of signing the England midfielder, who was of interest to the Gunners back in January.
Image: Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Ilkay Gundogan
Sky Sports News reported Rice has a “gentleman’s agreement” that he can move in the summer – provided West Ham receive an offer worth £120m, be that in a transfer fee or a transfer fee plus players.
Rice has one year left on his contract at West Ham – with the option of a further year.
Arsenal also keeping an eye on Moises Caicedo’s situation at Brighton. Arsenal had two bids rejected in January – the latest was worth £70m.
Caicedo has since signed a new contract at Brighton – but manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted to Sky Sports earlier this month the player could leave in the summer.
Arsenal going for both Rice and Caicedo in the summer window has not been ruled out – but the prospect of bringing in both players would likely depend on money generated from possible sales.
Arsenal are also keeping an eye on a number of other midfielders, with Granit Xhaka expected to leave in the summer.
Gundogan is out of contract this summer – last month, he said talks with City were ongoing. City boss Pep Guardiola has made it clear he wants Gundogan to stay. Arteta worked closely with Gundogan when he was assistant to Guardiola at City.
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