Spurs have reportedly tabled a bid for the Spain international playmaker.
Over the weekend, a number of media outlets, including the reliable BBC and the not-so-reliable Daily Mail, claimed Tottenham are keen on Chelsea star Juan Mata after the Blues hi-jacked Spurs’ move for playmaker Willian.
The Spaniard has been named Blues’ player of the season in both the previous campaigns and is widely regarded as one of top five players in the Premier League. For Chelsea to sell to a fierce rival (and a potential title rival, depending on how you rate Spurs’ new-look, Gareth Bale-less squad) would appear extraordinary but ever since Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge there have been whispers that the Special One does not fancy Special Juan.
Mourinho’s team selections have done little to dampen the speculation. Mata was left out of Chelsea’s opening Premier League match of the campaign, a 2-0 win over Hull, amid reports the Spain international was carrying a knock; hardly groundbreaking stuff, particularly considering the alternatives Mourinho has at his disposal.
But Mata has also been benched for the Blues’ clashes with Aston Villa and Manchester United, with Mourinho refusing to call on the 25-year-old in the stalemate at Old Trafford, despite the likes of Andre Schurrle and Kevin de Bruyne doing little to justify their selection ahead of the former Valencia star.
Following the 0-0 draw with United, Mourinho again insisted Mata was an important part of his project at Stamford Bridge but speculation about Mata’s future is likely to continue up until next week’s transfer deadline.
The Spain playmaker appears happy at Chelsea and is loved by the Stamford Bridge faithful but in a World Cup year, Mata will want to play regurlarly, with competition for places in the Spain squad fierce.
The player also shares a good relationship with Andre Villas-Boas and it was the now-Spurs boss who helped bring Mata to Chelsea in summer 2011.
Even so, Spurs’ interest in Mata appears optimistic at best but the reports of a bid from White Hart Lane for the attacker are gathering pace, with Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri taking to twitter to confirm the reports:
Can confirm that Tottenham have indeed made the move for Mata (told yaaaaa…)
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) August 27, 2013
Palermi’s source is unclear but around about the same time as his tweet, numerous sources on twitter confirmed that Sky Italia had reported a Spurs bid for Mata, so it’s very possible Palmeri was simply watching TV before his revelation.
Sky Italy saying Tottenham have made a bid for Juan Mata…
— Emma Paton (@MissEmmaPaton) August 27, 2013
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid have also been linked with a loan move for Mata.
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