The Spaniard’s £37m move should be completed in the next few days.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed the Juan Mata to Manchester United deal is almost complete and that is just going to be the start of the club’s spending, reports the Times.
Midfielder Michael Carrick picked up an injury in the mid-week League Cup semi-final exit to Sunderland and manager David Moyes is concerned about the Premier League champions’ options in the middle of the park.
Although Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan and Arturo Vidal of Juventus have been targeted by Moyes, the Scot is doubtful they will be sold mid-season.
However, the 50-year-old is confident the Red Devils can land Fredy Guarin, as Inter Milan were going to sell the Colombia international to Juve in January.
A swap deal for Guarin and Mirko Vucinic had been agreed, but fell through at the 11th hour and now the future of the 27-year-old is in doubt.
Therefore United are looking to pounce and sign the South Amercian as cover for Carrick, with Moyes proposing a swap deal of his own.
With Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck in attack, the boss is prepared to sacrifice Javier Hernandez in order to land Guarin.
It’s been midfield where the English champions have really struggled this term, with £27.5m signing Marouane Fellaini failing to impress as yet.
However, bringing in both Mata and then Guarin would really strengthen the area and help United make a late push for the Champions League places.
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