This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Paul Robinson has slammed Moise Kean following recent reports that he was dropped from the Everton squad due to disciplinary issues.
What did he say?
Kean has endured a torrid time at Everton since he swapped Turin for Merseyside for £25.1m in August. The forward has not been able to score for his new side and has barely looked like doing so, averaging just one shot per game in the Premier League.
Now, things seem to be going from bad to worse for the Italian.
It was reported last week that Kean was dropped from the matchday squad as a result of him being late to a team meeting for the second time this season.
Robinson told Football Insider: “There’s obviously enough disrespect and enough reason to leave him out the squad. I’ve questioned why he’s not been playing him, he’s a very good player, they’ve been struggling to score goals and they haven’t got a number nine who scores frequently.
“Now we know and the attitude towards a manager and your own teammates is first and foremost. Fair play to Marco Silva for taking that stance. He’s 19 and he’s come to a new country and a new club so there’s warning lights flashing straight away.
“An attitude problem, with all those things taken into consideration, it’s not acceptable. He should be busting his gut to get into the team, to prove himself, to score goals and to do what he’s been brought for.
“I’ve been one of his biggest advocates but his attitude and application off the pitch, as the manager feels isn’t right and isn’t good enough or doesn’t warrant a place in the team, which is fair enough.”
Time running out
In truth, it looks like the Italian could be ruining his Premier League career before it has even properly got going.
Kean has not been able to prove himself on the pitch, so he should be doing absolutely everything he can off it to make a name for himself.
If his poor performances continue on the pitch and his attitude does not improve at Everton, Marco Silva may have not a choice but to let him go.
It seems the 19-year-old needs a serious talking to if he is to transform his fortunes on Merseyside.
Wolverhampton Wanderers had a busy summer transfer window in 2024. They lost some crucial players over the window, including Pedro Neto, who joined Chelsea for £54m, and club captain Max Kilman, who moved to West Ham United to reunite with former manager Julen Lopetegui for £40m.
The Old Gold were able to reinvest that money smartly, bringing in eight signings, both permanently and on loan. Perhaps the marquee deal was Brazilian midfielder Andre, who joined from Fluminense in a deal worth up to £21m. Amongst other moves, they also signed the likes of experienced goalkeeper Sam Johnstone from Crystal Palace for £10m.
Signing Andre was a big coup, given he was linked with many clubs across Europe. The Old Gold will be glad to have secured his services and have potentially avoided the repeat of a deal which saw them miss out on a high-profile signing, instead signing Leander Dendoncker.
Leander Dendoncker’s Wolves record
Wolves signed versatile Belgium international Dendoncker from Belgian giants Anderlecht on a permanent deal in the summer of 2019, after initially bringing him in on a season-long loan deal. He joined the club for a reported fee of £11.6m after impressing then-manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
In total, the 29-year-old made 159 appearances for the club, including 26 in his first season in 2018/19 when he was on loan in the Midlands. He managed to score 12 goals and register four assists during his time at the Old Gold.
One of the benefits of having the Belgian in the squad was his versatility. Not only was he able to play at centre-back, as he did so on 27 occasions, but he also slotted into midfield countless times. He played 55 games in defensive midfield and 64 times in the centre of the park, too.
Sadly, things did not really work out for Dendoncker at Molineux. He moved to Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee in 2022 and has since been on loan at Napoli. Now, the 29-year-old plies his trade for former club Anderlecht once again.
Had they decided to forgo the signing of Dendoncker, the Old Gold could have ended up with someone who has turned into one of Europe’s best defenders, Ruben Dias.
When Wolves missed out on Ruben Dias
It is no secret that, under Nuno, the Old Gold built a sizeable Portuguese contingent. That included the likes of Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota, both of whom have now left the club for pastures anew.
However, they did miss out on signing Dias and showed interest in the Portugal international whilst he was still a Benfica player. At that stage, the defender had a release clause of £57m, although the Old Gold were thought to want to pay less than that value.
The report from The Express and The Star stated that he fitted the 2019 Wolves recruitment model “in being young, with potential to increase his value considerably”. Over the past few years, the likes of Neves and Jota have left for great profit, and the Old Gold likely saw a similar opportunity for profit in Dias.
In the end, the Midlands club missed out on signing the Portugal international. He joined Manchester City the following summer for a fee of £65m, slightly more than his release clause reported in 2019.
It is fair to say the defender has been successful during his time under Pep Guardiola in Manchester. So far, he has made 183 appearances for the Citizens and has won countless trophies, including a famous treble in the 2022/23 campaign. He is now valued at a whopping £67m by Transfermarkt.
Premier League
2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24
Champions League
2022/23
FA Cup
2022/23
Club World Cup
2024
League Cup
2020/21
Uefa Supercup
2023/24
Community Shield
2024/25
It is surely a deal that Wolves might regret not completing back in 2019. Had they done so, they would have had one of the best defenders in Europe in their side, who they could have sold for profit even after they paid £57m for him.
Looking back on the situation, it makes you think just how different the last few seasons could have been for the Old Gold.
Wolves flop who left in 2022 is now outscoring every member of the squad
The summer transfer window officially slams shut at 11 pm tonight and Celtic do not have many hours left to complete their remaining pieces of business.
Brendan Rodgers does, however, look set to seal a deal for Augsburg central midfielder Arne Engels, who has completed a medical in Glasgow today.
The Belgian youngster is poised to finalise a staggering £11m move to Parkhead from the Bundesliga side, making him the club's record transfer.
Engels may not be the only midfield addition to walk through the door at Paradise before the end of the summer transfer window, though, as the Bhoys are looking closer to home for another recruit.
Celtic eyeing late move for Premiership star
According to Sky Sports, the Scottish Premiership champions are considering a last-gasp bid to sign Dundee central midfielder Luke McCowan.
The report claims that the Hoops are eyeing up a potential swoop for the Scottish ace and are weighing up whether or not to make an official offer.
Meanwhile, fellow top-flight side Hibernian have shown their hand with a bid worth more than £750k, which would be their club-record transfer and is their fourth attempt to sign him.
Sky Sports reveals that Dundee have not rejected the bid, as of yet, and are currently considering it, which has left space for Celtic to make a move if they decide to act upon their interest in the midfield star.
Rodgers should now push for the board to make a move for the talented left-footed dynamo before the deadline, as he could come in as a dream partner for Engels in midfield.
Why Celtic should sign Luke McCowan
Firstly, Engels is a creative midfield player who could come in and provide the quality to unlock opposition defences, following the departure of Matt O'Riley to Brighton.
The 20-year-old starlet produced five assists in 31 Bundesliga starts across the last two full seasons, with four 'big chances' created in 18 starts in the 2022/23 campaign.
Whilst he can provide a creative spark, McCowan could come in alongside the Belgian maestro and offer a big goal threat from midfield for Celtic, based on his form for Dundee since the start of last term.
Appearances
37
Goals
10
Assists
5
Big chances created
9
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.5
Duel success rate
45%
As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old ace hit double figures for goals in the Premiership for his current club, which shows that he is a proven scorer in the division.
The Scottish gem, who was hailed as "tenacious" by writer Kai Watson, has also started the current campaign with two goals and one assist in three matches, which suggests that his form last season was not a flash in the pan.
McCowan could step up as a scorer whilst Engels, who has scored three Bundesliga goals for Augsburg, could focus on being a creative presence in midfield.
Celtic now exploring late deal to sign 24 y/o with "great passing ability"
He is a new target for the Hoops.
ByHenry Jackson Aug 30, 2024
Therefore, they could complement each other well for the Scottish giants, with their respective attacking strengths, and that is why Rodgers should swoop for the Dundee dynamo.
Liverpool is abuzz with Arne Slot's side's imminent Premier League clash against Brentford, who will give Anfield a first taste of action for the season, but sporting director Richard Hughes will have most of his attention on the week ahead in the market.
The 2024 summer transfer window has entered its final week, and Liverpool remain the only outfit across Europe's top seven leagues to have refrained some strengthening their first team.
Still, Fabrizio Romano has hinted that the Reds could be set to bring in a new signing or two before the end of the month, with Slot inheriting an abundantly talented squad from Jurgen Klopp but one that fell by the wayside toward the end of the 2023/24 campaign and could use some fresh life.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp bows out
Should Joe Gomez be sold, Liverpool will need a new defender, with the 27-year-old attracting interest from a host of Premier League outfits and being valued at £45m by his club. Sepp van den Berg has already completed a £25m transfer to Brentford and the perfect new arrival might just be in the pipeline.
Liverpool transfer news
As per Football Insider, Liverpool are monitoring Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie, with the young centre-back having been on the club's radar for quite some time.
Hincapie was a core part of the Leverkusen side that completed an invincible domestic campaign last year, winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles, and would be a significant coup for Slot's side.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.
The 22-year-old is understood to have a £50m price tag but Liverpool's lack of activity throughout the summer months suggests that the funds are available to complete such a deal, with outgoings strengthening Anfield's financial accord even more.
What Piero Hincapie would bring to Liverpool
FSG's natural hesitance to launch high-money bids for players that wouldn't immediately walk into the first team is a well-known fact on Merseyside, but Hincapie could prove to be an exception to that rule.
While he's not the finished product and would perhaps not displace Ibrahima Konate or Jarell Quansah as captain Virgil van Dijk's undisputed, nailed-on partner in central defence, there's enough there to speak of the importance of getting the deal done.
Matches (starts)
26 (16)
36 (36)
22 (17)
17 (13)
Goals
1
2
0
2
Assists
2
2
0
0
Clean sheets
7
9
5
2
Touches*
62.4
90.8
75.5
76.5
Pass completion
92%
91%
88%
89%
Ball recoveries*
3.0
4.7
4.4
4.2
Tackles*
1.3
1.1
1.6
1.5
Clearances*
1.6
3.9
2.3
2.3
Total duels won*
3.2 (60%)
5.4 (76%)
6.0 (66%)
4.5 (64%)
As you can see, he has much to learn before he is playing with the kind of polished, world-class swagger of Van Dijk, but he still impressed with his ball-playing quality and of course, featured in a defence that concluded the term without tasting defeat – and winning the league trophy besides.
Also, as per FBref, the Ecuadorian already ranks among the top 9% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for passes attempted, the top 14% for progressive passes, the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 14% for tackles made per 90.
He has the properties that Slot admires, capable of playing through the lines and driving forward himself to instigate attacking sequences and add to the central overload that the Dutch tactician loves to charge his swift-passing, control-focused brand of football.
Tipped to become “one of the world's best centre-backs” by journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango – who also dubbed him an "absolute beast" – Hincapie would be a wonderful addition to the team, and would actually be the perfect replacement for Gomez.
Joe Gomez upgrade
Bayer Leverkusen have picked up where they left off under Xabi Alonso, winning the DFL Supercup before scoring a last-gasp winner in their gripping Bundesliga opener against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday night.
Hincapie has already proven his qualities and continual growth toward the upper end of Europe's defensive titans, winning 80% of his duels last time out.
Gomez offers a defensive versatility that is astounding in its scope, having featured across the backline under Klopp last year, but this is a new era and Hincapie offers greater distribution, as well as carrying some of the talents that Gomez offers too.
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez
Hincapie, moreover, is a competent left-back, impressing when moonlighting down the flank in the past. Liverpool have Trent Alexander-Arnold and his electric understudy Conor Bradley on the other side of the backline, so it's hard to imagine that Gomez would receive too much game time in his natural position.
The England international also won only 48% of his ground duels in the Premier League last season. While Gomez showcased many redeeming qualities after a wretched 2022/23 campaign, earning a Three Lions recall and leading writer Joel Rabinowitz to praise his “renaissance”, he's not irreplaceable.
Hincapie's 5.14 progressive passes per 90 over the past 12 months also stands above Gomez's 4.88 per 90, emphasising further suitability within the new way of life at Liverpool.
Gomez is also the club's longest-serving player after joining from Charlton Athletic for £3m as a teenager in 2015, so perhaps the time is right to part ways and issue in some new blood.
Hincapie is a talented player with so much potential yet to be realised, and given that he offers the kind of style that enhance Slot's system, it seems like a bit of a no-brainer, with Liverpool in need of at least one signing to ensure that the new era goes off without a hitch.
Slot's own Ugarte: Liverpool could land dream No.6 in £51m "machine"
Michael Beale made two January signings for Glasgow Rangers only a mere six weeks into the job, luring Todd Cantwell, and Nicolas Raskin to Ibrox.
They have both been inspired moves, especially the Englishman, as he has been rejuvenated since arriving in Glasgow.
Across just 20 matches during the second half of last season, Cantwell registered 11 goal contributions – six goals and five assists – showcasing his attacking qualities which looked certain to turn him into an England international during his spell at Norwich City.
It is a great start for the 25-year-old, but the onus will be on him to keep up this momentum next season and with Rangers signing a few attacking players during the transfer window, he could link up with a number of different options.
One striker who could allow Cantwell to flourish even more than he has is Lawrence Shankland, with the Gers seemingly interested in a move for the Hearts' frontman this summer according to TEAMtalk.
Could Rangers sign Lawrence Shankland this summer?
With Sam Lammers joining the Light Blues from Atalanta and Cyriel Dessers edging closer to a move, Beale is going the right way about replacing recently departed players Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos.
Shankland could be another exciting option for the club, especially with his stunning form for the Gorgie outfit last term.
The £3k-per-week Scot netted 28 goals across all competitions during 2023/24, while also grabbing four assists and by creating five big chances and making one key pass per game, it indicates that he can also link up well with others around him.
This could be a big bonus for Cantwell, who instead of creating opportunities for Shankland, the feeling could certainly be reciprocated, thus making him more unplayable than he already has been for the Light Blues.
Lawrence Shankland
The 6 foot hitman was lauded by journalist Joel Sked last year, who said: “Lawrence Shankland has been different class for Hearts. So much more to his game than goals. His ability to drop in, act as that focal point and link player, his awareness and the way he creates space for himself. All so good and so vital.”
With just two years left on his current contract, Beale could perhaps test the resolve of Hearts with a bid during the transfer window and if he lures him to Ibrox, him and Cantwell could form a scary duo when played together that’s for sure.
Arsenal have 'serious' interest in bringing Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz to the Emirates Stadium in the summer window, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest transfer news involving Kai Havertz?
As per The Daily Mail, Arsenal have opened discussions over a move for Havertz; however, he is likely to become more of a priority once the Gunners conclude a deal to sign West Ham United captain Declan Rice.
The report adds that the Germany international would be keen on a move across London, though Chelsea want around £70 million to sanction a Stamford Bridge exit for the £150k-a-week ace.
Real Madrid are also keen on Havertz as a potential replacement for their departed legend Karim Benzema and it is said that Chelsea would be open to selling the versatile 25-year-old, who has two years left on his deal in west London, according to The Guardian.
Chelsea look to have already started contingency plans in the event that Havertz does leave, as they have identified Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson as a striker target.
Havertz joined Chelsea back in 2020 for a fee in the region of £75.8 million from Bayer Leverkusen and has spent three years on the books at Stamford Bridge, as per Sky Sports.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Gunners have had a bid rejected already.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indeed confirmed that Arsenal's interest in Havertz this window is genuine.
Jacobs told FFC: "Well, the interest in Kai Havertz from Arsenal is serious and Mikel Arteta really feels that he can get the best out of the player. Chelsea's valuation is very high, though it's around £75 million pounds and Arsenal feel that a deal can be struck for lower."
Would Kai Havertz be a good signing for Arsenal?
Havertz has extreme talent; however, securing a move away from Chelsea may be the best option for the 24-year-old as he looks to deliver on promise showed earlier in his career.
In 2022/23, Havertz made 47 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, registering nine goals and one assist in total, as per Transfermarkt.
WhoScored shows that Havertz can lead the line instinctively despite not being a natural striker by trade, as the former Bayer Leverkusen man averaged around two shots and 1.1 key passes per match in the Premier League during the campaign.
One area of concern for Arsenal fans will be trying to figure out where Havertz functions best on the field positionally. In an interview from last year quoted by The Mirror, Havertz commented on which role he favours, stating: "Everyone asks this question and after three years, everyone should know by now what I can do – that I'm flexible up front and I can play a lot of different positions. Of course, sometimes it's good to play in different positions and sometimes it's bad, but in general, I'm an offensive player. I like to be in the box, I like to score goals, I like to arrive in the box often and I don't care if I'm there as a No.9 or a No.10. If I'm in the box, I'm there to score goals – and that's it."
Looking forward, Arteta will have a plan to maximise his capabilities as he aims to close in on bringing the Aachen-born star to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
Glasgow Rangers target Sam Lammers is expected to imminently fly over for a medical to complete his move to the Scottish Premiership, according to reports.
Who is Sam Lammers?
Lammers is a striker who is currently contracted to Atalanta, but having only ever made 19 senior first-team appearances, he’s spent the majority of his career out on loan. He's carried out temporary spells with Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Empoli and most recently Sampdoria during his time at the Gewiss Stadium.
The Light Blues were credited with an interest in the 26-year-old last month and reports later claimed that Michael Beale was set to step up his pursuit and was preparing to make a move after not only being impressed but being alerted to the centre-forward's availability in the Serie A.
If the following update is to be believed, a deal could be completed in the coming days.
Are Rangers signing Lammers?
According to The Scottish Mail on Sunday (via Rangers News), Lammers is "heading for a medical" and is likely to arrive in Glasgow "within the next 48 hours" to seal his switch to Ibrox. The Teddy Bears are "close" to reaching an agreement, with a deal expected to be finalised "this week".
Steven Gerrard reportedly wanted to sign the attacker back in 2020 when he was in charge, and whilst a move failed to come to fruition at the time, it seems he's finally on his way for a fee of £3.5m.
Sampdoria striker Sam Lammers.
Rangers will be in the market for a new centre-forward to replace the departing Alfredo Morelos, and whilst Lammers has been lauded an “energetic” player by journalist Josh Bunting in terms of his running power, he’s not prolific enough in the final third so Beale should be looking to add a second forward signing to replace Morelos' goals.
The Dutchman, who has the ability to play with both feet, only scored one goal in 20 appearances at Sampdoria and ranked as Dejan Stankovic’s 10th worst-performing offensive player and 13th overall with a WhoScored match rating of just 6.43, failing to have any kind of positive impact during his time on the road.
Lammers wouldn’t offer any kind of versatility having only operated in his usual role through the middle for the majority of his career, playing three times in attacking midfield and just once out wide on the right wing, via Transfermarkt. The boss would be pretty limited to using him almost exclusively as a number nine, meaning Lammers will have to improve his end product to become a sure starter.
Aston Villa have been linked to a Premier League ace, as Unai Emery aims to sculpt his side to his liking in his first summer window with the club.
The Villans have confirmed European football for next season, making Villa Park a favourable project to linked players, as well as the prospect of having a four-time Europa League-winning manager at the helm.
Despite the thrilling efforts of the squad this campaign, the Spaniard wants to make reinforcements this summer, with the latest link posing as a significant upgrade to Villa’s midfield.
What’s the latest on Youri Tielemans to Aston Villa?
As reported by The Athletic yesterday, Villa have ‘joined the race’ to sign Leicester City gem Youri Tielemans this summer.
The 26-year-old will become a free agent, and will depart the Foxes following no agreement of a contract renewal following the side’s relegation.
The report suggests that Emery desires the potential move to be ‘completed quickly’, due to the Spaniard missing out on signing a midfield target in the January window.
In a follow-up tweet, the Athletic's Gregg Evans detailed that the manager is a "big fan" of the player and the club "will make an approach soon."
What could Youri Tielemans bring to Aston Villa?
Praised as being a “major player” by former Premier League gem Eden Hazard, the midfielder has asserted himself as being one to watch in the league, despite starring in a relatively poor side.
Despite their relegation, the Belgian averaged a match rating of 7.04 this season, contributing to five goals in 31 appearances in the league, assisting two and scoring three himself – as per Sofascore.
At just 26, the midfielder has enjoyed a career nearing 500 appearances in all competitions, representing Anderlecht, Monaco and Leicester where he has scored 69 goals and assisted 60.
The £120k-per-week ace could offer a lot to Emery’s set up, and most prominently become a shining light for 16-goal Ollie Watkins, who could have a creative spark installed to fuel him from midfield.
Villa’s most identifiable creator at present is Emiliano Buendia, who sits at the centre of Emery’s attacking lineup.
The Argentinian averages 5.15 progressive passes per 90 as per FBref, but the threat Tielemans could provide to Watkins is far greater, with the Belgian averaging 6.95 in the same area.
Questioned as being one of the league's ‘best’ midfielders by Opta Analyst journalist Joe Wright, the 26-year-old could be the key to unlocking the further potential of the English striker.
Identified as having strengths in areas of key passing by WhoScored, the Leicester playmaker could thrive in Emery’s system, with the Spaniard lining up in a way that gives his attacking outlet freedom to create in a roaming midfield three.
The system that the 51-year-old has succeeded with at Villa is similar to the formation Tielemans thrived in at Anderlecht, playing central in a midfield trio behind the striker.
Watkins could seek new heights playing in front of the creative ability of the Belgian, who ranked in the top 11% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues this year for expected assists, averaging 0.18 xAG per 90 – as per FBref.
Available as a free agent this summer, Emery must act fast to get a steal in the upcoming window for a player that would thrive in his budding Villa squad.
Manchester United have an interest in David Raya at Brentford – but wouldn't want to pay £40m to sign the player according to Sky Sports.
Will Man United replace De Gea?
Raya has impressed at Brentford this season, with the player featuring in all 38 league games this campaign. He conceded only 46 goals during those outings and it is part of the reason why the Bees were able to seal a ninth-place finish in the Premier League.
Whilst his goals against rate has gone up from the 2021/22 season – from 1.13 to 1.21 – he has also featured in 14 more games this time around and yet the amount has increased substantially. With a save percentage of 77.7% as well, he has ranked amongst the top eight percent in his position in the Men's 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe for that figure. It shows how capable he is of winning points for his team and keeping the opposition out. He's also adept at stopping aerial balls, with the shot-stopper managing 8.7% of a crosses stopped rate – which puts him in the 93rd percentile.
His showings have now put him on the radar of some of Brentford's league rivals. According to a report from Sky Sports, United do have an interest in the player as a replacement for David De Gea, as do Tottenham for Hugo Lloris.
However, both sides have been quoted a fee of £40m to seal a deal for the goalkeeper and neither of them are too keen to fork out that amount. It means that if Brentford do want to sell him, they may have to reduce their asking price. What may help the suitors however is that the Bees have just signed a new shot-stopper in Mark Flekken from Freiburg.
Brentford goalkeeper David Raya.
Is David Raya joining Man United?
It's been a standout season for the goalkeeper and his stats back that up. With an average of 4.05 saves per 90, he ranks within the top one percent in his position in the 'Top Five' big leagues. That shows that if United did add him to their ranks and the opposition did manage to get through on goal, you would bank on Raya being able to produce the goods for example. That would instill a confidence in the Red Devils' defence for definite.
In addition, former professionals have also praised his ability. Michael Owen for example called the player "top-class," showing just how highly regarded he is in the game right now.
If United did decide to stump up the asking price for him then, he would certainly be worth the money.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag holds a "serious interest" in signing Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this summer, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
Will Mason Mount leave Chelsea?
Despite reports at the end of April indicating that Mount would be willing to commit to a new long-term deal at Chelsea, there has seemingly been no progress in that regard, and he could well be on the move this summer, with a number of teams interested.
Football Insider report that Man United are now confident they will win the race for the England international, despite interest from Liverpool, who are said to be keen on agreeing a deal, while Arsenal have also been named as potential suitors.
There is still a chance the 24-year-old remains at Stamford Bridge, as new manager Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear he wants him to stay, however with the Red Devils said to be "pushing", it remains to be seen whether he is willing to extend his stay.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, Crook has now claimed that Ten Hag has been a fan of the £80k-per-week Chelsea star for quite some time, which could potentially open the door for a summer move to Old Trafford.
The talkSPORT reporter said: "I think ten Hag has serious interest. I think he's been an admirer of Mount since he played in the Netherlands at Vitesse and the midfield is an area that still needs some surgery."
Should Man United sign Mason Mount?
There may be some understandable concern about Man United making a move for the Englishman, as his 2022-23 campaign was not his best by any stretch, registering just three goals and two assists in 24 Premier League appearances.
That is a considerable drop-off from the previous season, during which he recorded a remarkable 11 goals and ten assists in the top flight, reaching double figures for goals for the first time in his career.
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
However, the Cobham academy graduate offers a lot more than just attacking contributions, as he has also played a critical goal for Chelsea defensively over the course of the past year, averaging 1.98 tackles per 90, in the 88th percentile compared to his positional peers.
Hailed as a "superstar" by Rob Guest, Mount could be an excellent addition to Ten Hag's squad if he is able to reignite his previous form, and Man United should undoubtedly come forward with an offer this summer.