Manchester United's rejected offer of £55m for Chelsea attacker Mason Mount is reportedly still on the table.
The England international is currently being heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, with Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag said to have identified him as a leading target for the summer window.
However, Man United have thus far been frustrated in their attempts to purchase the 24-year-old, with Chelsea said to have rejected a £55m offer from the 20-time English champions for a player who only has little over 12 months left to run on his contract.
Chelsea allegedly presented a counter-offer to the Red Devils, signalling that they would be prepared to accept £58m plus £7m in add-ons for the England international.
Man United are now said to be exploring alternatives on the market, with Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo also believed to be of interest to the club.
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According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the £55m bid from the Red Devils remains on the table, with the club hopeful that Chelsea might reconsider their position in the coming days.
Romano claims that Man United head coach Ten Hag is fully behind the club's decision to stand firm and refuse to overpay for a player who is entering the final year of his contract.
The 20-time English champions will allegedly not make what they consider to be 'an unrealistic bid', but the club still want to sign Mount, and the player is also keen to make the move to Old Trafford.
Mount struggled to show his best form for Chelsea during the 2022-23 campaign, only managing three goals and six assists in 35 appearances for the club in all competitions.
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However, it was a turbulent season for the Blues, while Mount struggled with injury problems, missing the end of the campaign following a pelvic operation.
Ten Hag had allegedly been hopeful of having the attacker on board for the start of Man United's preparations for the 2023-24 campaign in July.
There remains huge uncertainty surrounding the ownership situation at the club, meanwhile, with a preferred bidder yet to be named despite the recent speculation.
Man United's main priority for this summer's transfer window remains a centre-forward, but central midfield has also seemingly been identified as an area in need of improvement heading into next season.
The Red Devils will begin their pre-season with a clash against Leeds United on July 12, and the club are working towards their Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 14.
Matt Law
