Chelsea have reportedly made progress in contract negotiations with midfielder Mason Mount, with the club increasingly confident that the player will remain at Stamford Bridge for next season.
The 24-year-old is currently sidelined with a hip injury and is set to miss the remainder of the campaign - one in which the England midfielder has started just 20 Premier League matches, his lowest total since making his first-team debut in the 2019-20 term.
Having been coached by Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and now Frank Lampard this season, Mount has faced a difficult time at the West London club, with the Blues looking set to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
According to Football Insider, Chelsea are hoping that Mount will sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge instead of moving elsewhere this summer.
The report adds that the imminent arrival of Mauricio Pochettino to the managerial role has increased belief within the club that the former Derby County loanee will reject offers from the likes of Liverpool in order to stay with the Blues.
A major stumbling block in contract negotiations is said to be Mount's wage demands, with the player wanting to be paid as much as some of the club's top earners such as right-back Reece James.
Mount will have a watching brief as his teammates travel to title-chasing Arsenal on Tuesday night in the Premier League - a loss at the Emirates would be the Blues' sixth-straight defeat in all competitions.
Carter White
