'One of the best' - What Lionel Messi and fellow stars have said about Mason Mount ahead of Manchester United transfer

Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount after agreeing a fee worth up to £60million with the Londoners last week.

The England international, who was at Carrington for his medical on Monday, is poised to become United's first signing of the summer transfer window. Manager Erik ten Hag made it one of his primary missions long before the window opened to strengthen his midfield options this summer and Mount is poised to solve that particular objective.

Ten Hag identified the Chelsea ace as his primary target several weeks ago and believes that he will offer the upgrade in talent and renewed energy that the Reds are looking for. United have agreed to pay Chelsea £55m up front and an additional £5m in performance-related add-ons.

Though it is a chunky transfer fee for a player who now has less than 12 months remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, it is a deal that makes sense for a variety of reasons: Mount is an established Premier League player, has bags of experience under his belt already and will lower the average age of United's midfield.

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Furthermore, Mount is a well-respected figure within the game, frequently attracting praise from some of football's biggest stars of the past and the present. Here is a look at what some of football's biggest names have had to say about him and his career so far.

Lionel Messi

The Argentina and Inter Miami star waxed lyrical about Mount during an interview back in 2020. Tasked with selecting a collection of young players who had the potential to become global stars, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner selected