Chelsea boss Graham Potter is eyeing the future of the club with ravenous ambition, and has identified one of the sport's most touted stars to potentially replace a current option who is attracting interest from Italy. 

What’s the word?

Mason Mount has become a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge; a boyhood Blue, he has been an integral cog in the machine since his ascension to the first-team several years ago.

But with contract talks on pause, Mount finds himself earnestly observed by Italian giants Juventus, with Calciomercatoweb reporting that Old Lady boss Massimiliano Allegri is even willing to sell up to three players to make room for the England star. 

Chelsea would undoubtedly be reserved over parting with their ace, who has already proved invaluable for the club, winning the 2020/21 Champions League, but his departure could turn the page to a deal of truly seismic proportions. 

Space cleared to swoop

Mount would likely garner a lucrative fee, and while many surrounding Chelsea would resent the deal to see their star boy depart, his exit could indeed shift attention to the signing of Jude Bellingham, with a marked increase in confidence over the completion of the deal sure to follow.

Bellingham, still only 19-years-old, is valued at £129m and has become one of football’s most talented young prospects, labelled a “prodigy” and playing with the maturity and leadership of an established midfield powerhouse at the top of the game, with an abundance of experience. 

Lauded as “powerful” and a “superstar” by Premier League legend Roy Keane, Bellingham has recently found himself at the centre of heavy interest from the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid.

However, despite intrigue from the world's most distinguished outfits, Chelsea might feel they hold an advantage should Mount depart, with the hefty fee required and the newfound slot in the team factors that point towards a deal closing on completion. 

And with reports stemming from South America stating that Liverpool have agreed a deal from summer 2023 for Argentina’s 21-year-old World Cup phenom Enzo Fernandez, the door is well and truly paved open.

Whether Chelsea choose to depart Mount, who is viewed by many as a natural leader and a prospective future captain at the club, will remain to be seen, but his 32 goals and 37 assists across 181 appearances have been crucial to the Blues’ success over the past few years.

And FBref ranks him within the top 19% of midfielders for assists, the top 15% for progressive passes received and the top 11% for tackles, across Europe’s big five leagues over the past year, and his robust presence at the beating heart of the Chelsea project will need to be meticulously assessed, if the club are indeed going to decide to part with him. 

Though, in Bellingham they'd have a perfect replacement, with Mount's England teammate comparatively ranking in the top 14% for assists, best 6% for progressive passes receives and the top 35% for tackles.