Chelsea star signs for £30m after Erik ten Hag U-turn – How Man Utd can unlock Mason Mount

Mason Mount is one of the several names at Manchester United for whom improvement is crucial this season after a miserable start to life at Old Trafford. The 25-year-old midfielder completed a surprise £60million switch from Chelsea last summer but hasn’t got off the mark yet due to relentless injury setbacks.

United took advantage of Mount’s contract situation to lure him away from Stamford Bridge, with Erik ten Hag seemingly planning to use him alongside Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro in midfield.

But his injury woes added to the endless adversity that struck the Dutchman in his second season in charge, significantly contributing to an underwhelming first impression.

Mount is clearly a very good footballer; there can be no disputing that fact just because he was one of many figures who endured misery at United last term.

He was named Chelsea’s Player of the Year in 2021 after helping his boyhood club win the Champions League and received the reward again the next year.

But the England international isn’t the first midfielder to arrive at United with the task of competing for minutes against Bruno Fernandes – club captain and one of Europe’s top playmakers.

That said, unlike Donny van de Beek, Mount has proven he is capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Premier League’s elite midfielders when he’s at his best.

Express Sport pinpoints two actions United can take to give their No. 7 the greatest chance of becoming a success under INEOS rather than one of the old regime’s last recruitment failures.

Revert to a 4-2-3-1

There was considerable coverage about the number of shots United faced last season as they slumped to their worst-ever Premier League finish, and rightly so.

Ten Hag’s questionable decision to switch from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 undoubtedly contributed to the gaping void in the middle of the pitch that became all too familiar.

United have switched back to a double midfield pivot in pre-season, with Mount operating as the attacking midfielder playing behind the striker.

They would do right to stick with it, allowing Mount and Fernandes more opportunities to attack rather than dropping deep into uncharted territory and contributing to a severe lack of shape.

Conor Gallagher hijack

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are close to agreeing a deal worth between £29m and £33m for Conor Gallagher. United can act quickly and repeat their swoop for Mount.

Gallagher has also entered the final year of his Chelsea contract, and the club have been making a blatantly obvious effort to cash in.

The pair shared a great relationship at the Blues, playing together over 30 times, and United reportedly plan to sign a midfielder if they offload one of Casemiro, Scott McTominay or Christian Eriksen.

Gallagher’s proposed transfer fee would represent a bargain for an established international midfielder who could become Kobbie Mainoo’s long-term partner.