Pochettino may cost Chelsea £70m as ‘desperate’ boss makes case to Todd Boehly

Mauricio Pochettino could prevent Chelsea from receiving a hefty £70million transfer fee this summer as the former Tottenham boss prepares to put his foot down over Mason Mount. The midfielder has piqued the interest of numerous Premier League rivals, and while many Blues fans would love him to stay at Stamford Bridge, doing so would incur the risk of losing him for free in 2024.

Manchester United appear to be Mount’s most likely destination if he leaves Chelsea this summer, with Erik ten Hag and co reportedly preparing to launch a £50m bid. The England international only has one year remaining on his Blues contract.

For that reason, the Red Devils may be reluctant to go any higher than their forthcoming offer, which falls £20m short of Chelsea’s £70m valuation. Rather than accept a cut-price fee, transfer insider Simon Phillips claims that the club are considering whether to take Mount off the market.

Pochettino is ‘desperate’ to keep the 24-year-old as he prepares for his first season at Stamford Bridge. His stance has reportedly sparked internal conversations over the best course of action.

While it was previously thought that Chelsea would be forced to cash in on Mount, rather than risk losing him for free in a year’s time, taking the gamble now seems to be a legitimate consideration.

If they decide to keep him, Blues fans will hope that Pochettino’s sway and superb man-management skills can persuade the Chelsea academy product to sign renewed terms. It remains to be seen whether Mount would attempt to force his way out of west London if Pochettino put the brakes on his exit, which could effectively cost Chelsea a £70m transfer fee.

Losing Mount would come as another blow for Pochettino, who is only just settling into his new job. N’Golo Kante’s imminent exit is unlikely to go down well with the Argentine, who is believed to be a fan of the French midfielder.

The 32-year-old is closing in on a mega-money move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, having completed his medical in London earlier this week. Kante shocked many Chelsea fans with his decision as a contract extension looked to be on the cards until a recent meeting with chiefs of the Saudi club.