Liverpool can take advantage of contract standoff to sign "perfect" midfielder

Chelsea have not made any progress in contract talks with Mason Mount and Liverpool continue to be linked with a move to sign him.

The English midfielder has less than 18 months remaining on his contract.

As things stand, there are no guarantees that Mount will sign a new deal with the Blues.

He has been at Chelsea since he joined their academy in 2005 before making his first team debut in 2019.

Contract talks are stalling and with his deal winding down, Liverpool could swoop in and attract him to Merseyside with the promise of being in the centre of a rebuilding team.

Jurgen Klopp wants "perfect Mason Mount"

British agent Haydn Dodge claims Jurgen Klopp will closely monitor Mount's contract standoff. If an opportunity presents itself to poach an unhappy rival player and solve an existing issue within the squad, Liverpool could make their move.

He said: "He’s been at Chelsea since he was a young lad but he’ll be looking at the Blues’ project and wondering if he’s going to be a guaranteed starter.

“His camp will be aware that he’s an England International too, and therefore be trying to maximise his next contract, so it’ll be interesting to see what the outcome is.

“I know Liverpool quite like him and I personally believe he’d be perfect for Jurgen Klopp and his system. You’d also assume Mount would be a cheaper alternative option to Jude Bellingham, so they may well be keeping very close tabs on his situation to see how it develops.”

Who could Liverpool sign in addition to Mason Mount?

Liverpool have been continuously linked with the 24-year-old and it's not hard to see why. Jude Bellingham could sign for Jurgen Klopp this summer if all goes to plan for the German but he could also add Mason Mount to his engine room.

Liverpool would be adding around £200M worth of value to their midfield which is exactly what is needed to compete for top honours across the board again next season.

Mount might not be many supporters' first pick to join Bellingham in moving to Anfield but he ticks all the boxes for the role that Klopp would assign to him.

His composure and technical ability would allow Liverpool to retain ball possession more than they have been able to this season. Unlike any of the midfielders available to Klopp, Mount is actually a goal threat and would provide some much-needed creativity in central areas.

Chelsea would prefer not to sell Mount to Liverpool specifically but their exorbitant expenditure and the ensuing need for income might warm them to the idea.

Liverpool have also been linked with a move to sign Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig. The defender is a boyhood fan of the club so it would likely take very little convincing to recruit him.

Naby Keita, meanwhile, is poised to leave the club when his contract expires in June. His term at Anfield has been a failure but he still has several years to get a fresh start at a new club or in a new league.