Mason Mount deal could dictate Manchester United's whole summer transfer window

This is the time to be a midfielder. The early knockings of a Premier League transfer window that has started with a bang is being dominated by players in the centre of the pitch and Manchester United are keen to get involved.

A striker might be top of Erik ten Hag's summer wishlist, with a goalkeeper also a priority, but United were short in midfield last season and as the campaign progressed it felt like they needed some younger legs in amongst the experience of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.

The Premier League's elite might have been unable to tempt Jude Bellingham back to these shores, but the market for other midfielders is alive and kicking and United head the queue for Mason Mount, who appears certain to leave Chelsea this summer.

Liverpool have already signed Alexis Mac Allister, having initially been interested in Mount, and Arsenal might have competition from Manchester City for Declan Rice, a player United might have wanted had money been less of an issue than it is.

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Instead, Ten Hag has eyes for Mount and at the moment United have a clear run at the 24-year-old, who is out of contract next summer and looks unlikely to sign an extension. There is always the danger of that changing, especially with Mauricio Pochettino taking over at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea have to cash in on academy graduates and Mount looks ready for a move.

He is also intent on joining United at the moment, with personal terms no issue ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford. That just leaves a transfer fee to be agreed upon, and that is when things become more difficult.

United are understandably reluctant to overpay for a player who could move for