After a transfer that was in the works for months, Mason Mount has finally been announced as Manchester United’s new number seven. Despite only having a year left on his contract at Chelsea, the Red Devils have still had to fork out a £55 million fee for the 24-year-old England midfielder.
Mount ends an 18-year stay at The Blues and in that time, he scored once against United in the 2019-20 FA Cup Semi-Final. Now working under Erik Ten Hag, what will Mount bring to the red side of Manchester and how will he be used?
A huge positive about the creative midfielder is how versatile he is. Mount has been in various positions in the midfield and has also been utilised on the wings. Across his 35 appearances in all competitions last season, the former Derby loanee was more deadly when playing through the centre of the pitch. Mount scored all three of his Premier League goals last from a central position in the midfield. But injury did hugely interrupt the back end of his season, only making one substitute appearance from March to the end of the campaign.
When analysing where the Portsmouth-born midfielder will play, it is key to look at the rest of the Manchester United squad. When looking at the wide areas, Marcos Rashford and Antony seem to have those positions locked down as their own. Both players are effective at cutting in on their stronger foot, with Rashford using his pace and Antony his tricky footwork.
The most likely player he will replace in the United starting line-up is Cristian Eriksen. After his ankle injury in January, the Danish international only returned in April and looked sluggish at times. It would be a role in which Mount would have to be prepared to defend, but also be ready for linking up with the likes of Bruno Fernandes in the midfield.
Despite only three goals and two assists in the Premier League last season, when Mount is fit and full of confidence, he can produce far more: 11 goals and 10 assists were his key numbers in the 2021-22 campaign).
Champions League football returns to Old Trafford for another season and Mount has four seasons of experience in the competition. Not only has he won Europe’s biggest prize, he also scored in a Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid showing he can turn up in huge matches.
Altogether at senior level, Mount won three trophies at Chelsea. All of them have been trophies won outside of England (Champions League, UEFA Supercup, and the FIFA Club World Cup), after two final losses in the League Cup and FA Cup against Liverpool in the 2021-22 campaign. He wants to add more to his trophy cabinet, and clearly, he believes he has the best chance of doing so at Manchester United.
After signing a five year contract at his new club, will Mason Mount blossom under Erik Ten Hag and live up to the number seven expectation at Manchester United? Only time will tell.
