Chelsea
have "immediately rejected" Manchester United's opening bid for midfielder
Mason Mount.
The offer is thought to be worth £40m.
Privately, United know what they are prepared to pay and it's understood
there is a big gap in valuations.
United are looking at a number of other players and would be prepared to
walk away from any deal.
Mount has one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge and there is a
growing feeling he wants to make the move.
United have a price in mind for the 24-year-old and will not overpay for the
Chelsea academy graduate as he heads into the final year of his current
deal.
The club has other targets if the move doesn't happen, with Brighton & Hove
Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo a player United have a long-standing
interest in.
It is thought they have asked to be "kept informed" on any developments
regarding the future of the in-demand 21-year-old.
United also like West Ham captain Declan Rice, who is expected to leave the
club this summer, although how much they can spend could be dictated by
money generated from departures and the outcome of the ongoing takeover
process.
United's number one priority is to bring in at least one striker, but it's
increasingly unlikely they will make a move for Harry Kane as Tottenham do
not want to sell the player, especially not to a Premier League rival.
United have made initial contacts over the availability of Atalanta's Rasmus
Hojlund and are keeping an eye on Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani,
among others.
The club is in the market for a central defender should there be departures
in that position.
The representatives of Napoli's Min-Jae Kim know about United's interest in
the 26-year-old, who is thought to have a release clause of £42m that kicks
in on July 1 for 15 days.
Monaco's Axel Disasi is another player United are said to be looking at and
the France international wants the move.
How long will Chelsea hold out on Mount?
Sky Sports News senior reporter Dharmesh Sheth:
"There appears to be a big gap in the valuations between the two clubs.
United are looking at a number of different players if they can't get a deal
for Mason Mount over the line.
"However, with Mount only having one year left on his contract, so you have
to ask for how long will Chelsea continue to play this game of poker.
"If they continue to say, 'no - you need to raise more money to sign him',
Manchester United may turn around and say they are comfortable with their
bids and will pull away.
"If Mount then doesn't sign a new contract at Chelsea, then he could leave
for a free next summer and can even sign a pre-contract agreement with a
club abroad in six months.
"It would be beneficial to Chelsea if there were a number of clubs in for
Mount, but the player is leaning towards United - and they're aware of that.
With no other teams showing a concrete interest, there cannot be a bidding
war.
"We were thinking whether £55m is as far as United are willing to go to and
Chelsea are wanting £70m - but this is starting at £40m. That price implies
United are only willing to go as far as £50m-£55m. Chelsea are at risk of
losing him for a free if they keep rejecting their bids."
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