Manchester United have had a bid, believed to be in the region of £37m, accepted by Chelsea for Spanish midfielder Juan Mata.
The 25-year-old will have a medical on Thursday before completing a move to the Premier League champions where he is expected to sign a four-and-a-half year deal at Old Trafford.
After being very public in their pursuits of Cesc Fabregas and Thiago in the summer, United are being very cautious with the Mata bid and Manager David Moyes declined to answer questions on Juan Mata after his side’s Capital One Cup semi-final defeat by Sunderland.
Members of the media were informed before the post-match news conference that Moyes would be answering questions on the game only and when asked afterwards about Mata, the Scot said simply:
“We are not saying anything.”
Should the deal go through it would break United’s previous record transfer – the £30.75m they paid Spurs for Dimitar Berbatov in September 2008.
There is a feeling go gloom an doom around Old Trafford at the moment and the arrival of a big name like Mata will go a long way to lifting that gloom. Yes he plays the No. 10 role where United already have Rooney and Kagawa, and they overpaid for him, but he represents the first big signing United have had under Moyes and his signing will help pave the way for other big names to join the club.
Mata gives David Moyes a potent attacking foursome of van Persie up top with Adnan Januzaj, Mata and Wayne Rooney playing behind him. IF they can all click, that is a good as attacking four as anyone in Europe, and maybe in Europe have.
One person not amused with the deal is Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger who questioned why Chelsea were making Man United better saying:
‘I’m surprised Mata is allowed to go because he is a great player. And Chelsea are strengthening a direct opponent.
‘It opens up transfer market, Chelsea don’t play United again. They could have sold Mata two weeks ago.’
What do you think of Juan Mata joining United?
