Liverpool 'fear' that they will miss out on the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea this summer, according to an esteemed journalist - weeks after they cooled interest in Jude Bellingham.
Mount has been linked with a move to the Reds for several months, since it emerged that contract talks with Chelsea had stalled.
It has been claimed that the club are reluctant to offer the midfielder the same wages as Reece James, who signed a new deal last year.
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But the London Evening Standard report that the Blues have opened talks with Mount in an attempt to offer him a one-year extension and stave off interest from Liverpool.
Chelsea are currently under the interim management of Frank Lampard, and while the England legend praised the midfielder when he first arrived at the club for his second spell, it seems almost certain that he will not be in charge next season.
Now, a reporter has claimed the identity of the Blues' new permanent manager could sway Mount's thinking.
Can Liverpool sign Mount?
Speaking on 90min's Talking Transfers podcast, transfer journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as Blues boss could convince Mount to stay at Stamford Bridge.
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Sky Sports News have reported that Chelsea have held positive talks with the former Tottenham boss, and that he could become the club's new manager in the next week.
Furthermore, Bailey claims that there is a 'fear' behind the scenes at Liverpool that Mount will not join them, having previously been more confident that a move could be on when Graham Potter was in charge of Chelsea.
He says: "Once someone like Poch comes in, I think Mount will be won over by this. There was always that expectation at Chelsea that they really didn't want to lose this kid.
"And Mount, the fact that he's come back to the table, or he's been receptive to it in the last few weeks, there's a real growing confidence there [that he stays].
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"We've seen it with Liverpool where, if he's available, Liverpool are going to be all in for him. But I think there's a real fear at Liverpool behind the scenes.
"I think they were hoping Graham Potter might stay for the rest of the season. That may have helped their pursuit of Mason Mount. The fact he's gone and a new manager's coming in, I don't see Mason Mount leaving this summer."
Featured Image Credit: Alamy / Chris Stading/Andrew Orchard sports photography/Alamy Live newsTopics: Mason Mount, Premier League, Liverpool, Chelsea, Transfers