Liverpool transfer facing ruin with primary Klopp target having head turned by Pochettino, Chelsea

Liverpool are seemingly facing transfer misery with long-term target Mason Mount reportedly ready to perform a U-turn over his future.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is desperate to rebuild his midfield this summer after seeing his side struggle in that department this season. Normally one of their strongest suits, the German has seen his engine room out-fought and out-thought on several occasions during the 2022/23 campaign.

Thankfully for Klopp, the timing of the squad restructuring comes at a perfect time with a number of players due to leave. Indeed, James Milner will be the first one out the door. The veteran star has been a brilliant servant for the Merseysiders, though a final career swansong at Brighton now appears likely.

And he will be followed out the exit door by Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo. Indeed, the four exits leaves Klopp with plenty of space to move for new bodies in midfield this summer.

Clearly it takes a special kind of player to add both the necessary quality and workrate to play under Klopp.

Nonetheless, the Reds boss does not appear short of options with a staggering 51 midfielders linked with Liverpool this summer.

However, the first of those deals does appear to be closing in. And with hopes growing that a deal for Alexis Mac Allister can soon be concluded, David Ornstein has revealed details of a clause that aids Klopp’s cause.

Now thoughts are starting to turn on which players Klopp might add alongside the Argentine.

And one man who has been persistently linked with the Reds this summer is England star Mount.

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Mason Mount likely to snub Liverpool to sign new Chelsea deal

The 24-year-old’s deal at Chelsea is due to expire in summer 2024 and talks over an extension have so far failed to yield a positive outcome.

Indeed, Mount reportedly wants parity with his fellow Chelsea academy graduate Reece James. The right-back recently penned a new deal at Stamford Bridge worth around £240,000 a week.

That is three times the money Mount is currently on and, understandably, he is seeking a suitable pay-hike.

However, with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly investing well over £500m in his squad, there are suggestions that Mount could be sold. And while the Blues supremo reportedly values the star at £60m plus, Klopp is reportedly keen to bring him to Anfield.

Now though it seems that the imminent appointment of Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea is about to change the landscape for Mount.

And rather than being forced out the door, it seems the Argentina is keen to make the player a cornerstone of his Blues side.

A deal to confirm Pochettino’s appointment is expected to go through this week.

And journalist Dean Jones believes an announcement over Mount could also soon follow, predicting he will become Chelsea’s answer to Dele Alli.

“Dele played as one of the three attacking midfield players that would support striker Harry Kane,” he told GiveMeSport.

“His output over the course of his Spurs career became very important. But it was his spatial awareness that allowed him to flourish and exploit opponents.

“As an attacking midfielder he would link closest with Kane and his athleticism combined with a knack of scoring goals put him in the very top bracket of players of his type.”

Mount compared to Dele Alli

Jones continued: “It makes sense that Mason Mount could become the Dele Alli of Chelsea. But there are also parts of Raheem Sterling’s game that fit with the specifics of the role, so Poch certainly has options.”

Either way, it seems Mount’s Chelsea exit is not the foregone conclusion many felt it would be this summer.

And given Chelsea’s bloated squad, it’s more likely that Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and potentially Joao Felix could also be on their way.

The latter has impressed while on loan at Stamford Bridge. But with Atletico Madrid demanding £80m-plus to make the move permanent, a more-reserved Boehly looks likely to rule out an extended stay.

As for Mount, the final say on his Chelsea extension will obviously fall on the player. But if Pochettino does make it clear that he wants Mount to stay and sees him having a major role going forwards, he will surely commit to a new deal.

Indeed, he has made it clear from the offset that staying at Chelsea was always his main priority. And under Pochettino he would surely fancy his chances of adding to the 33 goals he has from 195 appearances for the club.

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