The Frank Lampard era is here and Mason Mount is one of the first beneficiaries of his policy of giving young players a shot at the first team.
The Telegraph has reported that Mount has signed a new five-year deal worth £77,000-a-week and will be staying at Chelsea next season.
Lampard knows Mount well after the 20-year-old spent a successful season at Pride Park last season under the new Chelsea manager.
TIF Tactics
Mount helped Derby into the play-off final with eight goals and five assists in 35 league games, and he got a crucial goal in the play-off semi-final against Leeds.
Mount will offer a direct goal threat to Chelsea with half of his shots per game coming from outside the box [WhoScored.com].
In the Championship he scored six in the box, one in the six-yard box and two from outside the penalty area.
Predominantly right-footed, he also scored one with his head.
In the 45 dribbles he made in the league he was successful with an impressive 22 of them.
Can he transition to the Premier League?
His numbers dipped from the Eredivisie with Vitesse Arnham to the Championship (39 games, 13 goals, 10 assists/44 games 11 goals, six assists across all competitions) and the Premier League is a big step-up. Mount is yet to play for the Chelsea first team.
But the five-year deal that’s worth a staggering £20million is proof that Chelsea and Lampard have faith in him.
And if young players don’t get a chance, clubs will never know just how good they can be.