Arsenal boss Arteta told confidants deal for £60m star was all but done before Man Utd signed him - report
England international midfielder Mason Mount joined Manchester United from Chelsea for an initial £55 million last July, and the overall fee could rise to £60m depending on his success and appearances over several seasons.
The 25-year-old returned to training yesterday after four months out with a calf injury, and while many are already questioning their decision to part with such a fee for a player who was entering the last year of his contract at Chelsea, the Red Devils are convinced that they actually saved £10m on him.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool and Arsenal were both interested in recruiting the services of Mount, and Reds manager Jurgen Klopp touched base with him in January last year while his Gunners counterpart Mikel Arteta was reputedly telling confidants a deal was all but done.
However, it was Man United that won the race for his signature, and while Arsenal and Liverpool may feel lucky to have missed out on him due to his struggles this term, the midfielder finally has a chance to prove his detractors wrong and show what he is capable of in the Red Devils shirt.
Mount has only featured in 12 games across all competitions since joining Man United, weighing in with an assist, but the talent is there and the fact that two of the best managers in the land wanted him speaks volumes.
He is likely to return to action after the March international break as the FA Cup quarter-final game against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday could come too soon for him.
Mount was one of the best players during the four seasons he spent with the Blues senior team, weighing in with 27 league goals and 22 assists in 129 appearances, and manager Erik ten Hag will be hoping he finally hits the ground running in the coming weeks.
The Red Devils have struggled to impress this season, with several injury problems affecting their chances and performances on the pitch, and the return of Mount could come as a much-needed boost as they look to secure a Champions League spot for next season.