Mount wants higher salary than Fernandes to join Man Utd on top of £70m fee

MANCHESTER UNITED will have to pay £70million plus add-ons if they want to sign Mason Mount.

Chelsea are prepared to let the England star run down the final year of his contract rather than sell him for a price below their current valuation.

There have been talks between the two clubs after United agreed personal terms with Mount.

But Chelsea are digging in amid interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and other clubs.

The Blues insist they do not want to lose Mount — who was in Barcelona yesterday to watch the F1 qualifying.

The club say £70m is reasonable for a player of his achievements and age despite his contract situation.

A lot can change over the summer but, for now, Chelsea are bullish.

If a sale cannot be agreed, the Blues would look to get one last season out of him while trying to persuade him to stay.

Those hopes look slim, however, as Mount, 24, has rejected at least three previous offers.

Chelsea approached him in August and September with deals of five-plus-one years and a considerable increase on his current wage, thought to be around £80,000 per week.

Mount rejected both, so the Blues went back to him in January, offering a one-year extension until 2025 and with a bigger pay rise that would have made him one of the best-paid players at the club.

This was also rejected by Mount's camp, who are thought to be seeking about £250,000-per-week.

This salary would put the England international among United's highest-paid players.

It would be a £10,000 increase on the wages paid to Bruno Fernandes, whose salary sits at £240,000-per-week.

He would also earn more than Marcus Rashford and Antony, with the pair collecting £200,000 each week.

However, it would not make Mount the highest-paid player as stars such as Casemiro, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho rake in £350,000 per week.

David De Gea is currently the top earner but after agreeing on a new contract his weekly wage of £375,000 is set to be halved.