Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes Chelsea will regret allowing Mason Mount to join forces with Erik ten Hag’s team following Wednesday’s transfer announcement.
United confirmed the 24-year-old playmaker as the club’s first summer signing as the Red Devils convinced the Blues to sanction the sale with a substantial bid worth £55 million plus another £5m in add-ons.
It took United plenty of time and effort to find an understanding with their Stamford Bridge counterparts, but the hard labour has paid off as Mount prepares to begin a new adventure at Old Trafford.
And Ferdinand, who captained one of the most successful generations in Man Utd history, is over the moon for the transfer, taking to his Twitter account to appreciate the deal.
“Really pleased with Mount coming in,” he posted on Twitter.
“Young, talented & hungry. He has the experience of big games with pressure which comes when playing for Utd.
“As a player, he will bring us goals, creativity, a work ethic and a willing runner into the opposition box.
“He definitely adds to what we have in the squad and is different from the others in midfield.
“I actually think in time Chelsea will regret selling Mount.”
Mount’s 18-year association with his boyhood club, but a new chapter is about to begin, with the Englishman set to team up with Man United’s star-studded midfield cast.
After landing Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in his maiden transfer window at the Theatre of Dreams last summer, Ten Hag has added another top player to his glittering midfield line-up.
But as Ferdinand suggested, it’s time to focus on signing a world-class striker to increase firepower and the team’s chances of fighting for the Premier League title next season.
He completed his Twitter post with a message to the club to step up their effort to sign a new prolific marksman.
“Now for a No 9,” he wrote.
Man United’s bid to prise Harry Kane away from Tottenham Hotspur has hit a brick wall in the shape of chairman Daniel Levy, who’s unwilling to strengthen domestic rivals.
But other players, such as Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani, have been examined lately.
