The fact that Liverpool was unable to get Mason Mount from Chelsea turned out to be a godsend, because their replacement, Dominick Szoboszlai, has made a farce of it.
It was generally anticipated that Mount would grudgingly depart Chelsea and sign with Liverpool in the weeks leading up to the summer transfer window.
The pieces were in place for a move, and the England international was viewed as the perfect addition as a homeg6 problem was rising in Jurgen Klopp’s team.
However, as Manchester United became a serious contender for the midfield player, Liverpool were ultimately priced out of a move, and Mount moved to Old Trafford for a cool £55 million.
The Reds had already brought in their alternative, paying RB Leipzig £60 million to bring in Szoboszlai, three days before that agreement was made public.
With Scott McTominay, Sofyan Amrabat, and Christian Eriksen all preferred, Mount has only made eight appearances for United so far this season. He also only provided one assist in the League Cup. Most recently, Mount has lost his spot in the team.
Szoboszlai, on the other hand, has had unrestricted success at Liverpool, playing more minutes than any other outfield player and tallying two goals and two assists in 13 games.
He has reportedly done so on pay that is less than half of what Mount has requested, with United covering the difference, according to The Athletic.
Mount’s weekly salary at United is a base of £200,000, which can increase to £250,000 with certain bonuses. Szoboszlai’s pay is “around £120,000 per week.”
The Reds have added a player who will be a pillar of their team for many years to come in Szoboszlai, but Mount seems to be struggling at Old Trafford, just like he did at times with Chelsea.
Gary Neville said on Sky Sports over the weekend that “Harry Maguire was going to go to Manchester City and Mason Mount was going to go to Liverpool.”
“Yet when they come here, it feels like a graveyard for them.”
Mount is not alone, either. Romeo Lavia has yet to play for the Blues due to injury, and Moises Caicedo’s determination to pursue the money at Chelsea has not yet ignited on the pitch.
With 13 goals and three assists in 13 games played thus far, Jude Bellingham is seemingly the only Liverpool’s summer target thriving, he has had incredible success at Real Madrid. He has also contributed three goals and three assists in three games played in England.
However, in terms of their midfield makeover, Liverpool seem to have prevailed by paying a fraction of what other proposed deals would have cost to get Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister.
