Manchester United have been told by Chelsea they must pay £40 million if they want to secure the services of their midfielder Juan Mata, according to the Daily Mail. Despite posturing from both clubs, the Blues are prepared to sell the outcast if United match their valuation, and David Moyes is believed to be on the brink of making an offer. The deal is complicated however due to Chelsea's on-going interest in Wayne Rooney, and the Red Devils are refusing to sell the striker after twice rebuffing their advances last summer. United manager Moyes is desperate to bolster his midfield and has the cash to secure a deal for the Spain star, who is on the fringes at Stamford Bridge. Mata was left out of the side that beat the champions at the weekend and has only made 13 league appearances all season, mostly from the substitutes' bench. That defeat to Chelsea was United's seventh Premier League loss and Moyes is in serious need of fresh blood if he is to salvage even fourth place this term. The Scot believes a deal for Mata can be struck, and the 25-year-old will be sold - but only if United stump up the £40 million asking price.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
