With their hectic winter transfer window now closed, Chelsea’s focus is on striking an agreement to extend the contract of midfielder Mason Mount, 90min understands.
Co-owner Todd Boehly made it clear earlier this season tying both Mount and right-back Reece James down to long-term deals was among the club’s top priorities this season, but while the latter put pen to paper on a six-year contract back in September, Mount is yet to sign.
An agreement is yet to be reached with the 24-year-old, but sources have confirmed to 90min Chelsea are now focusing all their efforts on reaching a positive outcome in the coming months.
Chelsea are prepared to make Mount one of the highest-earning players in the squad as a reward for his emergence as a regular starter for both club and country.
Mount’s representatives are aware of interest from other clubs but Mount is understood to be keen to stay at Chelsea and re-establish himself as a key player as part of the Blues’ lofty plans for the coming seasons.
Among Chelsea’s plans is the signing of Mount’s best friend, West Ham midfielder Declan Rice. A former Blues academy player, Rice has attracted significant interest from Arsenal in recent weeks but Chelsea remain keen on a reunion – even after their £106m acquisition of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.
While tying down Mount to a long-term deal is not essential to Chelsea’s pursuit of Rice, sources close to the situation believe it would help in convincing the West Ham midfielder to join up with his friend at Stamford Bridge.
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Thiago Silva is set to sign a new contract in the coming weeks while Chelsea remain in talks with the representatives of injured midfielder N’Golo Kante, whose deal expires at the end of the current season.
Decisions also have to be made on the players whose contracts expire in 2024. Mateo Kovacic, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic all join Mount in entering the final 18 months of their contracts.
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