(Image): Thiago Silva makes feelings clear on Mason Mount’s likely Chelsea departure

If Mason Mount really wants to stay then a deal will get done because ownership have stated their interest in keeping him. Unfortunately, it appears the supporters want him to stay more badly than the player himself!

Reports are that ownership wants to structure all player contracts going forward largely around incentives (as opposed to guaranteed wages). The purpose is to ensure revenues and player salaries remain in general alignment over the long haul—if the team performs well, revenues go up, and players get paid handsomely for the results they produce. It’s just a guess, but reading the “tea leaves,” I’d surmise that Mount is demanding guaranteed wages and ownership see this as a “test case” in which, given their vision for maintaining fiscal stability, they can’t afford to bow (in their very first year) to one young player’s demands or they’ll never be able to hold the line with the next young star (and the next one and the one after that). So, frustrated supporters who just want to see their golden boy stay need to step back and see the bigger picture. The player has every right to look out for his future (and who wouldn’t want guaranteed wages?!), but the owners face a similar imperative with respect to the club. Nobody will scream louder than supporters if, by giving Mount the sun and the moon, the owners set an unsustainable precedent that compromises the ability to sign future stars.