On his way out of Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, Mason Mount was not playing any risks.
After the forgettable goalless draw against Liverpool, the Chelsea midfielder went by a crowd of waiting media while holding his phone tightly to his ear. By doing so, he avoided having to speak with any of the reporters.
Mount had not yet come off the Londoners’ bench. But as he snuck out of the stadium without saying a word to the assembled journalists, the England international was doubtless well aware of the persistent transfer interest from the Reds.
In the summer, Fenway Sports Group and the recruiting team plan to remodel Jurgen Klopp’s engine room, and the guy, who is 24 years old and qualifies as a homegrown player, fits the profile they are looking for. Liverpool are known admirer this youngster.
His availability is another factor in his favor. Throughout the previous three Premier League campaigns, Mount only missed four games for Chelsea. This season, though, he has missed just four games in the top division, including three that he missed due to an injury sustained at Tottenham Hotspur at the end of February.
There’s no denying that Mount hasn’t had the impact of previous seasons with three goals and six assists in 32 appearances this year. But, that absence may have contributed to his lack of play in Chelsea’s last two Premier League games. Mount has played offensive midfield for the last two seasons, contributing 25 assists and 22 goals.
Add to that Chelsea’s extravagant spending of more than £500 million since being acquired by the Todd Boehly-led group less than a year ago, and it’s easy to see why Mount has been reticent to agree to a new contract at Stamford Bridge even though his current agreement is set to expire next summer. He is not ruling anything out.
Yet anyone worried that Liverpool would steal a player from a direct opponent who might be seen as surplus to requirements need to keep in mind that they have been in this situation before. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was in a comparable circumstance at Arsenal in August 2017 before the Reds, who had been following the player for some time, made their bid just before the transfer deadline. Oxlade-Chamberlain has struggled with injuries at Anfield, but by the conclusion of the season, he will have made possibly 150 games and won medals in six important competitions.
As evidence, consider the success this season of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, who transferred from Manchester City to Arsenal, as well as more recently, the influence being made by Jorginho, who joined the Gunners from Chelsea during the January transfer window. Some can thrive in a different system, while some players require a new challenge. Liverpool is of the opinion that Mount is capable of doing both.
Conor Gallagher, a fellow Englishman and another Chelsea midfielder with a similar profile to Mount is one of the players Liverpool are evaluating in front of the summer due to the anticipated firesale at Stamford Bridge that has left them open to offers. On Tuesday night, Gallagher appeared for the final 20 minutes.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho had to start once more at Chelsea Bridge, highlighting Liverpool’s midfield problems once more. Given that it was only Curtis Jones’ second Premier League start of the season, it is understandable why Henderson in particular ran out of gas after an hour.
One of the important considerations that Klopp will need to make is whether or not Henderson and Fabinho still have it in them to play against Arsenal on Sunday. Harvey Elliott, who was rested in midweek, might also be available. Liverpool currently doesn’t have a lot of space for manoeuvring with Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita certain to miss out, Stefan Bajcetic injured, and Arthur Melo not a viable starting option.
But the idea of Mount lining up against the Londoners the next time Liverpool plays Chelsea doesn’t sound as far-fetched as it did a few short weeks ago. The midfield’s future just became a little bit more exciting.
