Manchester United's three problems with bringing in Mason Mount: too expensive, not in style and incompatible with B fees

Manchester United locked in the first blockbuster signing in the summer window. After weeks of negotiations, they agreed with Chelsea to finalise the transfer of midfielder Mason Mount. According to TA's David Ornstein, the Reds will spend £55 million plus $5 million floating to sign Mason Mount.

Mount is one of the Premier League's best-known stars and played a key role in Chelsea's Champions League triumph in the 20-21 season. But Manchester United fans have some concerns about his transfer fee and suitability. These questions are not to say that he is not a good player or that he will fail at Manchester United, but rather that the potential problems with the team's investment and signings are explored.

The cost of the transaction

Manchester United's three problems with bringing in Mason Mount: too expensive, not in style and incompatible with B fees

The problem is that United could have been exempted from a visa a year later. Chelsea have little advantage in the negotiations and Mount has made it clear he wants to join United and has no intention of staying in London. As a result, United could actually take the Blues' number one target, Kecedo, and pair him with Casemiro.

Those 60 million could have signed a top-level goalscorer, and perhaps they had given up on their plans to bring in Osmayne. They could also add a little more money to bring in Muani, who outperformed Mount in the 22-23 season.

Not an ideal candidate

Mount can play in two positions in midfield and is an excellent No.10 with 11 goals and 10 assists in the 21-22 season, one of the best players in the Premier League at the time.

But in modern football, the number 10 is fading out, and only that particular playmaker can fill such a role. In the 433 system, Mount mainly plays the No. 8 position. He is surrounded by teammates who defend well and can grab the ball, allowing him to press on and score goals and assists in the opposing half. Chelsea in the 20-21 and 21-22 seasons had such a configuration, with N'Golo Kante by his side.

Manchester United have adopted a two-axis formation of three midfielders so that they can have a playmaker, and last season B Fei was the player who created the most chances on goal in European football (219). Mount is not suited to this arrangement, as United do not use a 433 formation, with an 8 pushing forward or swapping the ball with the goalscorer in the opposing half.

They can let him be a midfielder on the right, form a double axis with Casemiro and retreat back to control the ball. Ten Hach could use Mount and B to form a double-headed attacking midfield, as did Manchester City and Arsenal, which have Kai Havertz and Odegaard.

The problem is that it doesn't seem like a very smart investment. Arsenal spent 65 million to bring in players from the same team, and they are younger and better, so the 60 million does not look like a good deal.

B fee

When Mount arrives at Manchester United, he will occupy the attacking space in midfield, and it will be difficult to coexist with B Fei. So the latter is different from Havertz or Timo Werner, he needs the ball, likes the feeling of the ball at his feet and plays more like a quarterback. I'm not comparing it to Messi, but he needs that sense of leadership, to dominate the ball. Similar characteristics make it difficult for the two to coexist.

The reality is that fee B is a better pure playmaker than Mount. Statistically, his ability to create chances is the most in Europe, and if paired with a great shooter, he could contribute 20 assists. He led the Premier League with 3.2 key passes per game last season and is in the prime of his career at the age of 28.

Manchester United have paid a lot of money to bring in a less pure playmaker, who can actually get Sancho to play No. 10 to relieve the pressure on the B fee. Manchester United already have Playmaker. If they want to bring in an No.8 to form a dual axis with Casemiro, they can find a player with more playmaking at the back or more versatile. But they have brought in a complementary No.8 or No.10 player who is in direct conflict with the position of B fee, while the Portuguese star's contract expires in 2026 and will not leave the team anytime soon.