Future team mates?

By Chris
January 21 2014

The Daily Telegraph leads its Tuesday sports coverage with the claim that Manchester United are preparing a £37million bid for Chelsea's Mata, but the jury is out as to whether the Spaniard is the answer to the club's troubles.

It is reported that David Moyes is prepared to smash the club's record transfer fee to sign the attack-minded midfielder.

The 25-year-old is struggling for game time at Stamford Bridge amid intense competition for places, and is thought to favour a move away from Chelsea.

Following a difficult season to date, the need to bolster United's midfield pack has been clear to see.

Whether a player of Mata's mould, who is very attack-focused, should be United's priority is a subject for debate. United's lack of creative flair has been clear to see, and the arrival of Mata could help address that problem, which has seen the Red Devils too often struggle in the final third this season.

However, with a fully fit squad, United can designate similar duties to the likes of Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj, whilst Wayne Rooney is often comfortable playing just behind a strike partner. With Rooney and RVP both due to return from injuries, seamlessly slotting Mata into the United XI potentially poses problems.

To splash out a fee in the region of £37millon, Moyes surely envisages that Mata will be one of the first names on his team sheet - but to make such a commitment, the Scot must be certain that he is the answer to United's well-documented midfield woes. 

Since joining Chelsea from Valencia in 2011, Mata has made 135 appearances for the club and netted 33 goals. Paris Saint Germain are amongst the other clubs previously linked with his services.