Manchester United Transfer Rumors: Juan Mata Expected At Old Trafford Thursday To Complete Transfer From Chelsea

Bringing an end to a highly-discussed negotiation period, Manchester United and Chelsea have reportedly agreed upon a transfer fee that will send 25-year-old midfielder Juan Mata from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford. United knows their chances of repeating as Premier League champions are slim at best but with the ability to still claim a top four slot -- which would guarantee the club a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League -- the Red Devils and first-year manager David Moyes made it a goal to upgrade the roster, especially at the midfield position.

Mata, who is now set for his physical with Manchester United, will join the English giants for a fee of 37 million pounds. The Spanish international has spent the last three seasons at Stamford Bridge but the arrival of coach Jose Mourinho hasn’t impacted the 2010 World Cup champion in an overly positive manner. Experiencing a drop in playing time with both Chelsea and the Spanish international squad, Mata made it clear that his desired move would be to Old Trafford although the Blues would have preferred a deal with Atletico Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.

In three seasons with the Blues, Mata registered 33 goals and 58 assists, solidifying himself as one of the top midfielders in professional soccer. Though he’s hoping to rejuvenate his career at the young age of 25, certain people associated with the Premier League don’t understand why this transfer was made between the two BPL rivals, including Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who currently has the Gunners at the top of the competitive English League table. The Emirates coach noted that because Chelsea and Man U do not square off again this season that a transfer between the two was an easy move to make, even noting that it could be considered unfair.

“I am surprised,” Wenger said. “Juan Mata is a great player and they sell a great player to a direct opponent. It opens again a little bit the opportunity of this transfer market because Chelsea has already played twice against Man United. They don’t play against them anymore. They could have sold him last week before United’s defeat at Stamford Bridge. If you want to respect fairness, that should not happen. You would want that everyone is on the same level. Chelsea do not do the rules. Maybe the rules should be adapted to more fairness.”