Manchester United have launched move for Mata - report

Manchester United have approached Chelsea about the possibility of buying Juan Mata, according to a report on ESPN.

The story says that Manchester United have enquired about a transfer for Juan Mata as they look to take advantage of a perceived uncertainty at the club, although the report says it is unknown whether Wayne Rooney is involved in a proposed swap deal.

The report is gathered by Miguel Delaney, usually good on United rumours, and importantly, states that it has come from sources at both clubs - therefore unlikely to be what the early Mata rumours were suspected to be, a contract negotiation ploy, with the Spaniard on very low wages for his ability at the club.

The possibility of a Wayne Rooney swap deal, then, may not be too extraordinary. The report states that while Jose Mourinho is open to the possibility of losing Mata, Roman Abramovich is a big fan, and so it seems that it would cost a lot to get them to sell. You'd think in any such situation that Chelsea would probably demand Rooney in return, considering United's apparent refusal to sell.

That sounds like a pretty good deal. Well, more than that, it sounds like a pretty great deal. We can ignore the 'strengthening rivals' point safe in the knowledge that it certainly strengthens us a lot more. Mata isn't the answer to our problems - someone that plays deeper will have to solve our midfield troubles - but he's simply far too good a player not to get into our team with ease.