By Chris Wright
According to several fairly reputable sources (including the Guardian) this morning, Chelsea and Manchester United have come to a “provisional” agreement over a deal for Juan Mata, with the two clubs apparently settling on a £40million fee.
That said, United are yet to actually make a formal bid for the 25-year-old, Chelsea’s bafflingly out-of-favour two-time Player of the Year – though it’s being rumoured that United may set the ball rolling over the weekend.
And lo, it looks like the transfer rumour that we all instantly wrote off as being a work of pure fantasy actually has some flesh on its bones after all.
We can understand Mata wanting out (11 league starts, only completed 90 minutes on three occasions, etc, etc) but it certainly seems a strange move from Chelsea’s perspective – especially once you consider how loathe they were to allow the wholly less valuable Demba Ba to join title-rivals Arsenal on loan a few months ago.
What say you Pies fans? Any thoughts on the…heh…Mata?
Heh heh.