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Mason Mount: Man United signing has told Erik ten Hag exactly what he wants to hear

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Mason Mount is set to become Manchester United’s first signing of the 2023 summer transfer window after the club agreed a deal with Chelsea for the midfielder.

That fee is said to be £55 million plus £5 million in performance-related add-ons and United have booked in his medical for Monday ahead of the official announcement.

Erik ten Hag is a big fan of the player and it seems like he will replace Christian Eriksen in the midfield three at Old Trafford.

Eriksen, 30, had a successful debut campaign at the club but showed defensive fragilities throughout the season. Mount would be an upgrade out of possession but would also offer quality on the ball.

Whilst the Chelsea midfielder has played most of his football in more advanced areas, he has previously stressed his comfortability when playing in a deeper role, as well how he can operate in several different positions.

“I am always trying to improve,” Mount told The Guardian in 2021. “I feel like I am versatile and can play in a deeper role and obviously in a more forward role. I’m always learning. I’m still young and I’m still learning.

“In terms of the formation, we [England] are versatile as a team. In the modern game, you have to be ready to change if the other team are tactically different to what you have prepared for. We are ready for that definitely. I feel like I can play in any position and I just want to understand, more and more, different positions.”

Mount’s versatility will certainly be something that Ten Hag appreciates. The Dutch manager hasn’t been shy in trying players in several positions since taking lead at United.

Luke Shaw is perhaps the most successful story from the last year, with the defender moving centrally in the absence of Lisandro Martinez and looking very strong. Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst are just three others who played in multiple positions last season.

In 2021, The England international also became the youngest player to wear the captain’s armband for the Stamford Bridge club since John Terry in the early 2000s.

“I’m continuing to learn more about being a captain and the leader,” he added. “There’s so many players [at England] who I can take tips from. It’s unbelievable to be with these experienced players.”

This will be another attribute that Ten Hag will like as he attempts to make a strong core of players at Old Trafford. United have three players who captain their national teams in Eriksen, Casemiro and Victor Lindelöf.

Raphael Varane was also a leader in the France squad before his international retirement earlier this year and Harry Maguire is part of the leadership group at England, meanwhile Bruno Fernandes is both a leader for United and Portugal.

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