4 May 2026 10:33 BST |
4 min read
Gary Neville believes that Manchester United should “trade” out-of-favour midfielder Mason Mount this summer.
The Red Devils are gearing up for a summer of major personnel turnover, particularly in the engine room. Casemiro is definitely leaving, despite growing calls for him to be handed a contract extension, and Manuel Ugarte is set to be sold after failing to impress in his two years at the club.
However, that may not be the end of it. Former Chelsea star Mount could also be facing an uncertain future, having become a forgotten man at Old Trafford. Although he has made 20 Premier League appearances this season, the majority of them came under Ruben Amorim.
Incredibly, Mount has played just 27 minutes across four appearances under interim boss Michael Carrick. Injury is partly to blame for this, as has so often been the case for the former England star during his time at Man Utd, but even when fully fit, he has struggled to get on the pitch.
He has been an unused substitute in four games under Carrick, and he did not get to play against Liverpool on Sunday. Consequently, club legend Neville believes that it is time for Mount to move on.
Neville: Mount is expendable
Speaking after the 3-2 win at Old Trafford, Neville outlined the four transfer priorities for Carrick, who is all but guaranteed to get the permanent job now, this summer.
“I think United need a left-back for next season because Luke Shaw has played every game this year, and he may struggle. They need a centre-back, 100%, and they need two midfield players,” Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast.
By making Mount available, Man Utd could make a fifth signing, he believes. “Look, if you could, then maybe trade Mason Mount for someone else who maybe can play in and out and can be a bit more flexible across the midfield and forward line, then I would say go for a fifth.
“But if you can’t, I would say those four areas are the priority, and they’ve got to be top-notch, those players.”
Mount has been with Man Utd for three years, following his €67.7 million transfer from Chelsea in the summer of 2023. To say that his stint in Manchester has been a disaster would be an understatement.
Constant injury problems have restricted him to just 69 appearances, mostly off the bench. His minutes played are even more telling. Despite featuring in 22 games across all competitions this season, Mount hasn’t even cracked the 950-minute mark.
All told, he has amassed just 2,650 minutes of competitive football in his three years at Old Trafford. He played 962 across 27 matches last term and 756 in 20 in his first campaign at Man Utd.
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