Transfer Gossip: Crafty Ten Hag angers Klopp as £55m target chooses Man Utd over Liverpool; West Ham plot massive Leeds raid

Manchester United are well placed to sign a £55m Liverpool target, much to the ire of Jurgen Klopp, West Ham are readying a £35m swoop on Leeds, while Thursday’s Transfer Gossip says Aston Villa are moving to keep a star man from Arsenal’s grasp.

MASON MOUNT WANT MAN UTD MOVE OVER ALL OTHERS

Mason Mount will reportedly inform Chelsea he wants to leave Stamford Bridge in a new meeting with bosses – and a move to Manchester United is now his No 1 objective.

The England star, 24, has reached a career crossroads with his Chelsea deal having a year left to run. For all intents and purposes, he had looked destined to quit Stamford Bridge with Todd Boehly looking to claw back a portion of his massive £500m-plus outlay.

However, the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as manager appears to have sparked a change of direction for Chelsea.

And it’s now understood that the club want to keep the player after all.

However, after failing to meet his initial demands of a payhike to an estimated £240,000 a week, Mount appears to have since had his head turned.

Furthermore, the major rebuilding programme at Chelsea, together with a lack of Champions League football, has seemingly convinced Klopp to move on.

Mount’s apparent refusal to sign a new deal means Chelsea will have little choice but to sell. Mount will reportedly communicate that plan in a meeting with Chelsea later this week.

Boehly is reportedly seeking a fee in the region of £70m for the 58-goal midfielder; however, it’s reported they will accept an offer in the region of £55m.

Mason Mount prefers Man Utd over Liverpool

For long periods, Mount appeared destined to move to Liverpool this summer. With Jurgen Klopp looking to rebuild his midfield and having lost a string of players, there appeared a clear place in the side for Mount.

However, The Athletic now claims Mount is ‘leaning towards’ a move to Man Utd instead.

Erik ten Hag was not reportedly intending to prioritise the signing of a new midfielder this summer. Indeed, his focus lies in the signing of a  centre forward and a centre-half instead.

But the United boss is a huge admirer of Mount’s talents and reportedly sees the opportunity as too good to miss.

And with his contract about to enter its final 12 months, he knows signing a player of Mount’s calibre for such a discounted price rarely emerges.

As such, Manchester United are expected to press ahead with a firm push to sign Mount early next month.

Mount’s preference to move to Old Trafford also offers encouragement that a deal can be struck.

But for Klopp it will come as a hefty blow in his early efforts to rebuild the Liverpool midfield.

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WEST HAM READY TO RAID LEEDS FOR KEY PLAYER

West Ham are ready to rub salt into Leeds United’s expected relegation wounds by raiding them for Jack Harrison.

The Whites are hanging on to their status as a Premier League club by the narrowest of threads. Sat in 19th, they need a minor miracle to avoid the dreaded drop, with their fate decided on Sunday.

In order to stay up, Leeds need to beat Tottenham at Elland Road and hope Everton lose to Bournemouth and Leicester drop points at home to West Ham.

With relegation looking likely, a number of players are likely to depart the stricken West Yorkshire side.

And while Marc Roca could be the first one of the door with a move back to Spain seeming likely, he could soon be followed by Harrison.

Per The Sun, the 26-year-old will likely move on in the event of relegation.

Harrison has four goals and seven assists to his name this season, having recently signed a new deal with Leeds.

However, West Ham are reportedly looking at a possible £35m raid for the industrious winger, who can operate off either flank.

Hammers boss David Moyes looks certain to stay on next season and has handed his board an ambitious eight-man shopping list.

And Harrison’s name features strongly with Leicester’s Harvey Barnes another option. However, his the Foxes’ star comes with a steeper £50m price tag were he to leave.

READ MORE: West Ham braced for hectic summer as eight-man shortlist has David Moyes in dreamland

VILLA MOVE TO TIE DOWN KEY STAR TO BLOCK ARSENAL INTEREST

Arsenal’s prospects of luring Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa are fading with the striker close to a new deal.

The seven-times capped England frontman has been in sensational form this season, scoring 15 goals in 39 appearances. And while that does not sound that much, most of those have come since Unai Emery’s appointment at the club.

Indeed, during a hot streak under the Spaniard, the 27-year-old went on a 11-goal scoring streak from 12 games.

Now that form has seemingly alerted Arsenal to his possible signature, with his contract at Villa due to expire in summer 2025.

But Watkins’ form has prompted Villa to open talks over an extension and as a reward for his progress.

And now, according to the Daily Telegraph, Emery is ready to hand him a payrise at Villa.

Per the report, both Watkins and John McGinn will commit to new long-term deals this summer.

Scotland midfielder McGinn has been a model of consistency at Villa Park, making himself a regular in the side.

Previously linked with Manchester United, McGinn’s current deal is also due to expire in 2025.

But Emery, knowing the 28-year-old’s value, wants to ensure his peak years are spent at the Villains.

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