Chelsea's £106m problem? Don't write Enzo off just yet

Football on TV in India: Matches to watch & live stream

Big-game Toone can save Man Utd's season with FA Cup triumph

Claim Your Exclusive 1xBet Promo Code 2024: 1GOALIN for ₹66,000

Real Madrid set to sign the new Phil Foden!

Ballon d'Or Rankings: Messi begins making his move for No.9

Leverkusen break 59-year record for longest unbeaten run

Seven goal contributions & record win! Messi given ‘70%’ chance

‘How’s the jet lag?’ - Wrexham star pays price for Vegas party

FIFA threatened with legal action over new Club World Cup

Leverkusen's treble dreams stay alive with Europa League semi win

Mbappe exit to save €225m for PSG's summer rebuild

Forgotten 23-goal PL striker open to Wrexham move

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Mount was signed in a £60million deal</li><li>Ten Hag reveals Chelsea's reluctancy to sell</li><li>Manager backs midfielder despite injury-ravaged season</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Erik ten Hag claims Chelsea ‘didn’t want to sell’ Mason Mount as he backs midfielder to become a ‘big player’ at Old Trafford

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Chelsea

Manchester United

Arsenal

The England international <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/mason-mount-liverpool-arsenal-man-utd-transfer-chelsea/blt163c6f6f56669b78" target="_blank">made a £60 million ($76m) move to Old Trafford </a>last summer after months of protracted contract negotiations with the Blues. While many speculated that Chelsea, in light of Mount's injury history, saw an opportunity to cash in on their academy product to alleviate financial pressures, Mount himself hinted at feeling unwanted at Stamford Bridge. "Several months ago, it became clear I wasn't in Chelsea's plans going forward," he said in an interview with MUTV in July 2023.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Contrary to popular belief, Ten Hag contends that Chelsea made numerous attempts to retain Mount, offering him new contracts on multiple occasions. Ultimately, it was Mount who expressed a desire to pursue new opportunities, leading to his decision to join Manchester United.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Speaking to reporters, Ten Hag said: "I don't think Chelsea wanted to sell him. They wanted to keep him and offered him a new contract many times. But he wanted to make this step."He's a fantastic football player. It's important first that he's getting and keeping fit. You see it now with Licha (Martinez), you want to avoid that. So you have to do it very carefully. We want to use him so he can have benefit and have a contribution to the team, as he did on Saturday."

WHAT TEN HAG SAID

Mount's transition to United has not been without challenges, with injuries limiting his Premier League appearances to just nine so far. However, his recent performance, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/mason-mount-message-man-utd-fans-scoring-maiden-red-devils-goal-premier-league-brentford/blt2bd608edd15762e7" target="_blank">including opening his goal-scoring account</a> in a draw against Brentford, demonstrates his potential to make a significant impact for the Red Devils."I am sure he will contribute and he will become a big player for Man United," Ten Hag said."I was so happy for him. But so sorry for him also that it wasn't the winner. He deserved that moment of glory, maybe it was such a small moment but, for a player who came in and suffered so many injuries and worked so hard all the time, and had so many setbacks, it was so frustrating. And then you think you've scored a winner so we were disappointed when we conceded that goal that makes it 1-1. It makes a totally different mood, as you can imagine."

DID YOU KNOW?

As United prepare to take on Chelsea, Ten Hag faces the dilemma of managing a team plagued by injuries to key players. However, this might open a window of opportunity for Mount to be potentially included in the starting lineup in the highly anticipated clash between the two Premier League giants on Thursday evening.

WHAT NEXT?

Erik ten Hag claims Chelsea ‘didn’t want to sell’ Mason Mount as he backs midfielder to become a ‘big player’ at Old Trafford | Goal.com India

Erik ten Hag has sensationally revealed that Chelsea &quot;did not want to sell&quot; Mason Mount, as he backed the midfielder to make it &quot;big&quot; at Old Trafford.

Editors' Picks