Mason Mount is facing an identical issue. Meetings with Jadon Sancho at Manchester United.
Mason Mount had hoped for a stronger start at Old Trafford after struggling to get off to a quick start at Manchester United.
When Mason Mount visited the club’s training complex for the first time since signing with Manchester United this summer, he hugged Kath at reception, head chef Omar Meziane, and a few fans who had been invited to Carrington.
Throughout the afternoon, Mount maintained a broad smile on his face as he attended to club media duties.
He left a pleasant impression, and it was hard to root for him to be successful.
However, it has been 120 days since he signed an official contract with Chelsea, and Mount could certainly use a hug.
He’s already lost his starting spot in the team because his move to Manchester has not gone as planned.
Mount said he was ‘absolutely buzzing’ to be at United when he signed and it would only be natural if his enthusiasm had tempered, with the harsh reality of wearing a red shirt having been laid bare in the last few months.
The negotiations to sign Mount weren’t straightforward, but he always felt attainable this summer because Chelsea were open to a sale and, rather crucially, the player was enthused by the prospect of signing for United.
United had three bids rejected for Mount before coming to an agreement with Chelsea and a deal worth an initial worth £55million., with a potential £5m in add-ons, was eventually struck.
Erik ten Hag had followed Mount’s career since his loan spell in the Eredivisie with Vitesse and he made signing the 24-year-old his priority midfield signing, to freshen up the centre of the pitch and provide energy.
“Mason is an extremely intelligent footballer and has so many fantastic technical qualities that will significantly add to our squad,” football director John Murtough said when his transfer was confirmed.
“We have admired his talents for a long time, so we are delighted that he has chosen to take the next steps in his career here at Old Trafford.
His style of play and attributes are a perfect fit for this squad, and we all believe that he will only improve further working with Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff.
“Mason himself is a world-class player but he also has the ability to improve the players around him through his game intelligence and tactical awareness.
We were particularly impressed by his strong desire to join United and his thirst for further success.”
Mount looked sharp in pre-season and he made his debut against Wolves on the opening day of the season.
He was brought to the club to play in a deeper midfield position as a No.8 and he operated in that role in that 1-0 win.
Wolves were unfortunate not to leave Old Trafford with a result and they easily bypassed United’s midfield, which looked completely unbalanced, with Mount, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes playing together for the first time.
Mount had also started the game by taking each corner, but his deliveries were poor and Fernandes assumed that responsibility.
He was replaced by Christian Eriksen with 20 minutes remaining and it wasn’t the debut he dreamt of.
Just a few days after that game, Ten Hag was asked about Mount’s position and said: “I think he can [play deeper].
Already, we have seen it in pre-season, but it’s what I’ve said, definitely we have to work on many facets of our game.
“But also that facet about midfield and the co-operation, how we have to set it. I’m sure we will get it [right], but it’s not coming overnight and [if] it was easier then everyone could do it.
“Christian Eriksen, last season, came in and had the same.
First time in his life he played in a deeper role and that was the ambition from Christian and then also the ambition from Mason.
“And so he wants to be more multifunctional. That’s the way I see football, but as I say, it will not come overnight.
There’s a process we have to go through, but he’s very game-intelligent.
“He has the technical abilities, has also good vision on the ball. He knows how to deal with the ball.
He has the dynamics, don’t forget that. He has the mentality. So, all the ingredients are there to do it.”
Mount started the next game against Tottenham and sustained a hamstring injury in that defeat in the capital.
He was sidelined for five weeks with that issue and he started in the doubleheader against Crystal Palace upon his return.
Palace were stuffed 3-0 in the Carabao Cup and that result provided a false sense of security.
Roy Hodgson’s side won 1-0 in the Premier League when the sides met again just a few days later and that was a jarring defeat for United.
Mount was substituted in the closing stages of that game again and he failed to have an influence in his deeper midfield role, which has sparked a conversation in the last few weeks around which position is actually his best.
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