Chelsea have finally accepted Manchester United’s £37m pounds offer for Juan Mata.
The 25 year old had been the subject of intense speculation in recent days and failed to report to training on Wednesday, with numerous news sources reporting that United made an approach through a third party.
The London club have now accepted the offer, with Jose Mourinho himself sanctioning the sale. Chelsea already have plans in place for his replacement – rumoured to be Liverpool target Mohamed Salah of Basel.
The player will have a medical on Thursday with a transfer to be finalised over the next few days, with Mata is in line to make his debut next week when United host Cardiff on January 28.
The Spanish star, who Chelsea signed from Valencia for £23.5 million in 2011, is said to have indicated to friends he was destined for Old Trafford.
Although Chelsea are yet to formally acknowledge the bid, still less accept it, a move for the 25-year-old would make sense from virtually every angle.
The Spaniard, who has voted Chelsea’s player of the season in each of his first two years at the club, has struggled to break into the Blues’ side since Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge, with the Portuguese manager favouring the attacking midfield trio of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian.
Yet Mourinho has repeatedly insisted that he wants to keep Mata at the club – despite the player’s furious reaction when he was substituted on New Year’s Day at Southampton.
Mourinho said after the incident that he wanted Mata to stay, though he did add that any player is free to ask for a transfer if they wish to leave.
