Erik ten Hag offers new explanation on Mason Mount's transfer from Chelsea to Manchester United

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag insists it was Mason Mount's decision to leave Chelsea.

The English international, who joined the Blues when he was six years old, He changed Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford in a £60m deal last summer.

It was after months of failed contract negotiations and many felt Chelsea were deliberately cashing in on their injury-prone academy product to help balance the books.

Mount, who had one year left on his Blues contract, even suggested his boyhood club I didn't want to keep him.

“Several months ago, it became clear that I was not in Chelsea“The plans from now on and once I knew United were involved, I made my decision,” he told MUTV in July 2023.

Meanwhile, some Chelsea fans felt the 25-year-old joined their Premier League rivals for financial reasons.

Ahead of the 25-year-old's return to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night… live on talkSPORT – Ten Hag insists that it was Mount who made the decision to leave.

“I don't think Chelsea wanted to sell him,” he said. “They wanted to keep him and many times they offered him a new contract. But he wanted to take this step.

“He is a fantastic football player. The first thing that matters is that he gets fit and stays fit. Now you see it with Licha (Martínez), you want to avoid that.

“So it has to be done very carefully. We want to use him so that he can benefit and contribute to the team, like he did on Saturday.”

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Mount was once Chelsea's most popular player and twice won the Player of the Year award.

While you can expect a frosty reception from the Blues faithful on Thursday night, many felt the London club were vindicated by Mount's departure in the following months.

The versatile striker has made just nine Premier League appearances for the Red Devils due to injury and only opened your account during the 1-1 draw against Brentford on Saturday.

Mount could start for United at his former club as Ten Hag faces a long list of injury absences.

The Red Devils are 11 points behind Aston Villa in fourth place, but have two games in hand.

“I have high standards and I would be disappointed if we didn't qualify (for the Champions League),” Ten Hag added. “I know it will be very difficult because we are not in a good position.

“But we want to win every game, that's the standard we have here among ourselves. We will move forward and continue to believe in those standards. That will be the focus in every game.

“We will continue to fight until the end. I know we are not in a good position. We have to catch up.

“I also know that we have had a lot of problems, so I am also a realistic man.

“In a competition that is so competitive and the teams are so close in terms of levels to each other, you also need the players to be available.”