Liverpool are keeping an eye on Mason Mount’s contract talks at Chelsea with talks having stalled over a new deal.
Todd Boehly made it one of his priorities upon assuming control of the west London club to secure the futures of academy graduates Reece James and Mount.
James committed his future to his boyhood club back in September when he signed a six-year deal, but negotiations with Mount have reached an impasse and been shelved until next year.
The England international is part of Gareth Southgate’s squad and although he still has 18 months left on his current deal the growing uncertainty has, according to The Guardian, alerted rival clubs.
Mount is currently one of the lowest paid first team players at Chelsea and wants a salary to reflect his status as one of new manager Graham Potter’s key players.
Chelsea are desperate to retain the services of 23-year-old who has been earmarked as a future club captain but the prospect of a move to Premier League rivals Liverpool may prove appealing.
Jurgen Klopp opted against strengthening his midfield in the summer until the last minute when Liverpool signed Arthur Melo on loan.
The Brazil international has been unable to make an impact, however, and a serious injury means he is unlikely to play again until February at the earliest.
With Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Thiago Alcantara all over 30 and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain almost certain to leave in the summer, it is inevitable that Liverpool will look to strengthen their engine room in the summer.
The Reds have also been heavily linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund star and Mount’s international teammate Jude Bellingham, but the competition for his signature is intense, while the Bundesliga’s £150million valuation may prove prehibative.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are on the lookout for new owners with FSG looking to sell and the prospect of fresh investment would be welcomed by Klopp.
He said: ‘In the structure we had we were obviously able to spend money but we always had to look and say: “What did we earn?”’ he said. ‘That was always the situation.
‘The two biggest transfers we did in the past with Ali [Alisson] and Virg [Virgil van Dijk], we all know how it happened. We got some money from Barcelona [£142m for Philippe Coutinho] and spent it wisely, I would say.
‘How we did it so far brought us to where we are, fine, but fresh money is no mistake, let me say it like this. Nothing gets cheaper. There is the inflation rate for all of us and in football as well. Sometimes you have to spend.
‘We are really happy, really happy, to give all our young kids a chance. I am so positive about the impact they will have in the future whenever that starts. Like Harvey [Elliott] now, Stefan [Bajcetic], Calvin [Ramsay], Ben Doak, Bobby Clark – really interesting. They all are. But from time to time you have to throw in proven quality. And in an ideal world, they are young as well and not 35.
‘From time to time you have to take some risk and we will see. I have no idea what will happen but I am positive about it. If in the end it is not positive, then I can start worrying, but I just think everything will be fine.’
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