Graham Potter says he hopes Chelsea can resolve Mason Mount’s contract situation quickly with the two parties at an impasse.

Academy graduate Mount is out of contract next summer and attracting interest from Premier League rivals as talks continue over a new deal.

The Blues are keen to tie the England midfielder down to a long-term deal, though his camp are not happy with the terms that have been discussed so far meaning little progress has been made.

Asked about the situation, Potter said: “It is always complicated, there are always negotiations.

“It is best that I leave it between Mason and the club, it is the best way for that to be dealt with as far as I’m concerned.

“He has been fantastic to work with, an important player for us and I hope it gets resolved quickly.”

After a run of below par performances, Mount – who is being tracked by THREE Premier League rivals – has been dropped from the starting line-up in Chelsea’s last two games, coming on from the bench against both West Ham and Borussia Dortmund.

Potter has been pleased with the reaction from the 24-year-old, who is in contention to start against Southampton this weekend.

Mount has a stunning record against the South Coast side, with the boyhood Portsmouth fan scoring four goals and claiming two assists in seven Premier League games against the Saints.

Chelsea star Mason Mount has spoken out on speculation about his future at Stamford Bridge, with talks over a contract renewal stalling.

The 23-year-old is set to feature for England in Qatar after being included in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man World Cup squad.

Mount and the Blues have agreed to pause negotiations over a contract extension until he returns to Cobham, with both camps feeling positive that an agreement can be reached.

Chelsea remain confident that Mount will sign a new deal with the club despite recent reports suggesting Liverpool and Juventus are monitoring the English midfielder’s situation as he enters the final 18 months of his current contract.

Mount has insisted that he will not be distracted by uncertainty around his future as he battles to win a place in the England team, coming up against the likes of Phil Foden and James Maddison for their World Cup opener, as per the Evening Standard.

The 23-year-old said: “I have always been so focused on my football since I was in the academy.

“I know now there is a lot more media focus on me, but I do not look too much into that. I block it out.”

According to football.london, one of the main factors causing negotiations to drag on is down to the length of the new deal beign offered.

Reports had suggested Mount has already rejected a new seven-year deal offered to him, with the 23-year-old wanting a higher base salary to represent his importance to the team.