Mason Mount to Arsenal transfer truth emerges amid Man United 'priority'

Arsenal and Liverpool were reportedly 'in contact' last year over the future of Mason Mount before he joined Manchester United.

It was reported last summer that the Gunners were interested in Mount whilst his future at Chelsea was up in the air. However, Arsenal moved on to Kai Havertz instead because the England international's preference was reportedly a move to Man United.

Havertz joined the Gunners in June last year for £60million with a further £5m in add-ons before Mount went on to join the Red Devils in a £60m deal. The Englishman's contract at Stamford Bridge was set to expire this summer, meaning he could have left for free if the West London club had not sold him last year.

And transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that there was initial contact with Chelsea in April last year for Mount from north London and Merseyside. However, he reiterated that Old Trafford was always his most likely destination.

«There was also an interesting United story involving Mason Mount, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta alleged to have told confidants that the Gunners were very close to signing Mount from Chelsea,” Romano wrote via CaughtOffside.

“My understanding is that there were contacts with both Arsenal and Liverpool while his situation remained uncertain at Chelsea, but this was not in the summer, it was around April when clubs started to ask about Mount deal conditions. That’s it, but Man United was always the priority for the player.”

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Mount has gone on to struggle badly during an injury-hit campaign in Manchester. The 25-year-old has made 12 appearances