The Chelsea ship seems to have sunk this past season, and the presence of excess passengers onboard unquestionably contributed to the downfall. While the captains in charge have rightly determined that ancillary baggage needs to be disposed of, they must be weary of incorrectly offloading essential integrants that would assist in keeping the vessel afloat.
However, it seems likely that the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge might commit one such blunder in the summer by electing to let go of Mason Mount.
Numerous clubs have reportedly been monitoring the tense situation between the Englishman and Chelsea to step in and snap up the young gem.
This article will analyze the importance of Mason Mount to the Blues and the attributes that make him a desired prospect for others.
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The two-time Chelsea Player of the Season experienced an arduous campaign, struggling to re-discover his form and influence games like he once could. Mount's difficulties have coincided with one of the most taxing periods in the club's history, during which it has witnessed an outlandish number of managerial changes. In the midst of all this stood contract negotiations which have been a lengthy process.
To understand why Mount was a regular in the team sheet under Frank Lampard in his first stint, Thomas Tuchel, and Graham Potter, let us analyze his strengths by reviewing the numbers.
We will examine his output from the 2021-22 season as it was statistically his most productive campaign with 21 goal contributions in the Premier League.
One of the many ways Mason Mount influences a football match is by helping his side with ball progression from the defensive to the offensive phase.
When analyzing the ball progression data produced per match, Mount ranked first among the Chelsea players for the 2021-22 campaign. What is more impressive is that he played 1000 more minutes than Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi - the two players that have almost matched the Englishman's figures - showing that he delivered quality output consistently throughout the campaign.
Another trait that Mason Mount is lauded for is his proficiency out of possession.
Chelsea fans would be more than accustomed to the Cobham graduates' relentless effort without the ball in every match he features. This characteristic is all the more important during a tactical period where a team's out-of-possession tactics are interlinked to their success on the pitch.
When examining the successful tackles made in the final third of the field by Premier League players in 2021-22, Mason Mount's output is impressive.
Although there are a handful of players that produce a higher return than Chelsea's no.19, the difference in minutes played is a significant contributor.
If we were to spot the number of players that have recorded minutes closer to that of Mount, none apart from Jack Harrison and Kevin De Bruyne come close to his output.
Mount's attacking returns in the same area of the pitch also make him stand out from the rest of his Chelsea peers.
During the 2021-22 season, the Englishman recorded the highest number of chances created in the league - reflecting his worth to the team for creating and scoring goals.
Suppose Chelsea were to lose their homegrown product this summer. In that case, they will lose a well-rounded quality player, who Mauricio Pochettino would adore working with, and also an integral spine of the squad since Mount racked up more minutes than any other teammate since his debut under Frank Lampard during the 2019-20 campaign.
At the time of writing, it is difficult to determine whether Mount's departure will be a consequence of his choice to seek different opportunities or a repercussion of failed contract negotiations. Some parties claim the former, while the rest have reported the latter.
Regardless of the reason, Chelsea fans cannot underplay the influence of the twenty-four-year-old on the team's success these past seasons negating the foregone campaign.
There is no denying that the day Mason Mount wears a shirt with different colors representing another club, especially in the Premier League, will be a sight that will hurt the Chelsea faithful, who has supported and sung his name with love since day one.
(Mason Mount celebrating his first goal for the Chelsea senior team against Leicester City on August 18, 2019)
(Image credits: Reuters)
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