Frank Lampard makes Mason Mount contract admission
Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard says he is unable to influence Mason Mount's contract negotiations with the club.
The 24-year-old is into the final year of his deal and has attracted interest from Premier League rivals
Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle.
The Blues are looking at ways to convince Mount that his future lays in west London, but there's uncertainty over whether the England midfielder is convinced that staying is in his best interests.
Nevertheless, Chelsea are confident that talks are heading in the right direction, with a short-term extension under consideration to ensure that Mount puts pen to paper.
Lampard, who gave Mount his debut and made him the youngest captain since John Terry in 2021, is only in charge until the end of the season - Mauricio Pochettino currently looks primed to take on the role permanently after agreeing terms in principle - and revealed ahead of the Premier League clash with Brentford that he has no say in whether or not Mount remains at the club long-term.
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“At this point, it’s not my opinion that will be the resolution. It will be the opinion of the club and the opinion of Mason, so that’s between them," the Chelsea caretaker manager said.
"I think my opinion’s pretty clear, I don’t need to spell it out what I think of Mason as a player. There’s no doubt Mason is a top-class player through what he brings to the team in and out of possession.
“We could have done with him in the games we’ve played already this season. But the bigger picture is something that’s going to become clearer in the next weeks and months, and that will be the club and Mason together having conversations.”
Mount's future at the club has been further complicated by a pubic bone injury that will keep him out of action for four weeks and likely the rest of the season. He will undergo surgery on the ongoing issue, raising the possibility that he may have played his last game for Chelsea if he does not renew his contract.
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