23rd January, 2014
Manchester United have broken their club transfer record by paying a reported £37m to seal the capture of Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho signed the deal following talks with the club executive and the Spaniard is set to have a medical in Manchester on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Spaniard is set to sign a four-and-a-half year contract with the reigning Premier League champions.
United have had a torrid season so far, with the club six points off the pace in the race for fourth place – and Champions League football next season, but Mata’s addition will be a huge boost to the squad.
Mata had found his opportunities at Stamford Bridge severely limited this season under Jose Mourinho, and had not played for Chelsea since New Year Day.
The Guardian reports Chelsea will now consider whether to move for Inter Milan’s highly rated midfielder Fredy Guarin and the Blues might sanction a loan move for Michael Essien.
Manchester United are also looking to send winger Wilfried Zaha on loan to Cardiff City, once they complete the signature of Mata.
Manchester United believe they could complete all the formalities quickly so that Mata can make debut against Cardiff on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Man. United boss David Moyes admits their Capital One Cup semifinal defeat to Sunderland was the worst moment of his short spell in charge.
Moyes admitted his side were below par. Jonny Evans’ first-half header would have been enough to send United through.
But David De Gea inexplicably allowed Bardsley’s weak slot to slip through his fingers in extra-time to hand Sunderland the initiative.
Although Hernandez turned home Adnan Januzaj’s low cross to force penalties, only Darren Fletcher converted for the hosts.
“We didn’t play well enough,” said Moyes. “If we were (to go through), we were going to stumble over the line.
“With a minute or so to go we were almost there. We had opportunities to score a second goal and put ourselves in a better position but there is always going to be a loser in the semi-final and it was us.”
Asked whether it was the most severe blow he had taken during his short tenure, Moyes said: “Yeah, I think it is part and parcel of the game.”