The fans are understandably divided on these two departures as some feel that they both are still young and would have offered a lot for the club.
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Chelsea have been one of the busiest teams in the summer transfer window so far after selling plenty of their players already. Add to it, a lot of players from other clubs are also rumoured to join them in the ongoing window. Hence, emotions must be running high for Chelsea supporters in recent times. Among the players who departed the Stamford Bridge in the window are Kai Havertz and Mason Mount.
The German international, who scored the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final for Chelsea, has joined Arsenal. On the other hand, Mason Mount, who has been at the Stamford Bridge outfit from a very young age, has just recently moved to Manchester United. The fans are understandably divided on these two departures as some feel that they both are still young and would have offered a lot for the club.
Former English player Paul Merson has criticised Chelsea for letting those two join their direct rivals in the top four race. “Let’s be honest, selling Mason Mount and Kai Havertz is not good business from Chelsea. I just don’t get it. It may make sense if Chelsea had to bring some money in, but there is no point getting money in at the expense of missing out on the top four, which itself will lose the club more money,” the Sky Sports football expert stated.
“Manchester United and Arsenal are going to be in the mix for the top four next season along with Chelsea, so why would you weaken yourself by selling two of your best players to direct rivals? Chelsea fans will say Mount and Havertz didn’t have great seasons last season, but they are proper players who will definitely improve the teams they go to.”
Merson, who has played for Arsenal among other teams, would have preferred to see Mount and Havertz move abroad instead of joining a Premier League rival. “I could understand if they were sold to Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, but not to two enemies who are going to be fighting to be where you want to be just to get money in to keep on buying unproven kids. The way Chelsea are going about it, it’s like they are trying to dominate football in five years’ time, but we all know how football changes and these up-and-coming kids aren’t guaranteed to be the stars of the future,” he was quoted as saying by skysports.com.
Merson also spoke about how players coming through the academy and those bought from other clubs might be treated differently at certain teams. “When you’re a player coming through the ranks, it’s not the same as someone who has been bought. If you’re paying £50m for someone, they are an asset, so they get looked after,” he elaborated.
“When I went to Middlesbrough I was treated like a king. I sneezed and there was a tissue there! Mount has probably thought, ‘why am I getting treated differently to everyone else, why am I not getting the money these other players are getting?’ Let’s remember, he was the best player in the team the year before last and won Player of the Year twice.”
He added: “I cannot believe only one club was after Mount. He’s proven in the Premier League, before his injury last season he was nailed on to start for England and he was the best player in a good Chelsea team. If I supported Manchester United, I’d be more than happy with the signing. He gives you energy, gets on the ball, on the half-turn, looks forward all the time. The kid is a proper player, a special player.”
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