Man Utd are preparing their final Mason Mount transfer offer but still far off Chelsea valuation

Manchester United had a £40m offer for Mount rejected by Chelsea earlier this week but will return with a higher offer for the 24-year-old forward as Erik ten Hag sees summer signings

Manchester United are set to make a £50m offer for Chelsea and England midfielder Mason Mount.

United had a £40m offer for Mount rejected by Chelsea earlier this week but are coming back with a bigger offer for the 24-year-old forward.

Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag has identified Mount as a player who can give United another dimension up front, with his ability to play in a variety of front-row positions.

Chelsea value Mount at £70m, but with the player entering the final year of his contract, United believe their £50m valuation is far more realistic.

United’s latest offer will likely be his last, with Chelsea under pressure to take Mount or risk going into the final year of his contract and potentially leave next summer for nothing.

With Chelsea having spent more than £600m in the last two transfer windows and having had to sell to comply with financial fair play rules, United are hoping their latest offer for Mount will be accepted.

A new striker remains Ten Hag’s priority in this summer’s transfer window, with Anthony Martial likely to be sacked and Wout Weghorst returning to Burnley from loan.

But Mount’s ability to fill different positions, his age and his relatively low fees given his contract status made him an attractive option for Ten Hag and United.

United have cooled their interest in England captain Harry Kane over Tottenham’s £100million valuation and their reluctance to sell to a Premier League rival – they are now ready to begin their hunt for the striker from Napoli valued at £80m Victor Osimhen to boost his books.

Mason Greenwood has been added to United’s squad for the new season – although he remains suspended.

Greenwood was suspended after being charged with attempted rape, control and coercion, and assault.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped those charges in February after key witnesses withdrew their involvement.

Despite this, the 21-year-old Greenwood remains suspended pending the outcome of an internal club investigation.

Greenwood has been placed on the retention list for the past 18 months, following his first arrest in January 2022, as he remains under contract.

United says the decision to list him gives no indication of the outcome of the ongoing internal disciplinary process.

Goalkeeper David De Gea, who expired on 30 June, is not on the list, although United have said “discussions with David about a possible new contract remain open”.