Chelsea & United ‘Provisionally’ Agree £40m Mata Deal As Moyes Eyes £70m Spree

With the January transfer window in full flow clubs are working hard to try and strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, the latest on Juan Mata’s move to Man Utd.

It’s a story that’s dominated the back pages over the past 48 hours and it seems to be edging ever-closer after Chelsea and Manchester United provisionally agreed a £40m deal for the transfer of Juan Mata, according to the Guardian.

The newspaper claims that negotiations between the two clubs are at an advanced stage with the transfer now believed to be ‘almost complete’ after a £40m fee was agreed upon following high-level negotiations.

It’s worth noting at this point that the Guardian state that United are yet to make their bid formal and the deal is still dependent on Mata personally asking Blues boss Jose Mourinho to let him leave for Old Trafford.

That’s something the 25-year-old is almost certain to do after a hugely frustrating season that’s seen him lose his first team place at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard has started just 11 games and completed 90 minutes on just three occasions this season, and with the World Cup just around the corner, his lack of action could cost him a place in the Spain squad for Brazil 2014.

The report suggests that Chelsea, and Mourinho, would prefer to keep hold of Mata and review things in the summer but they are sympathetic toward’s his situation and will reluctantly agree to sell him to United if he makes his desire to leave clear during talks with the clubs management. The Chelsea players are due back at training today following two days off so discussions could even take place within the next few hours.

Mata’s signing would come as a huge boost to United boss David Moyes if they can pull if off and lift the pressure on his shoulders following a disappointing first season in charge. And there could be further movement in the transfer market before the end of the month with the Mirror reporting that the £40m signing of Mata will spark a £70m spending spree by the champions.

The newspaper claims that Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye is also on their radar and a £20m bid could be submitted to test the Geordies resolve, while Moyes is also believed to be keen on Bayern Munich defender Dante and Borussia Monchengladbach winger Patrick Herrmann.

It unlikely United will be able to sign all four players but it will come as a comfort to fans that the club are at least making every effort to improve the squad to boost their hopes of claiming at least a top-four finish this season.

The defending champions currently languish down in seventh place in the Premier League table – a full 14 points adrift of leaders Arsenal – while they are in a four-way fight with Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton just to make the top-four, so fresh blood has been called for and Mata could certainly be an excellent start.

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