What Juan Mata Transfer Means for Manchester United
In case you've been living under a rock or without access to any kind of screaming Premier League football fan for the past 24 hours or so, Manchester United are reported to be deep in discussions with Chelsea to sign Juan Mata.
David Bond of BBC Sport reports that a £35 million bid is in place, a club record for United, to bring the World Cup winner to Old Trafford after half a season spent on the fringes at Stamford Bridge.
Quite aside from the financial implications of such a deal, there is a range of on-pitch issues to consider for the reigning Premier League champions if the transfer is indeed completed.
Not Your Typical United Wide Man
Gary Neville, as per Sky Sports, has spoken about how Mata is not a traditional winger of the variety that Manchester United tend to purchase, and he's right.
It generally points to a feeling that Mata will initially be asked to help United structure their play rather more centrally than they have done until now, allowing a right-sided defender to keep the width when possible—potentially a continuing role in the side for Antonio Valencia, then.
On the other hand, he could be asked to maintain width from the left, but it seems rather a waste to pick up one of the league's top players and ask him to perform in a different role than that which he excels in.
A line of Adnan Januzaj, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata behind Robin van Persie, if all were fit and firing, would be a mouthwatering combination and one which would surely see the Red Devils improve on recent attacking displays.
Rooney's Replacement?
Elsewhere, Mark Ogden of The Telegraph reports that Wayne Rooney might well be off in the summer—thus, Mata might be the actual replacement for him ahead of his departure.
Mata being in a central role would appeal to most fans and managers (Jose Mourinho aside, obviously), but it would still leave Manchester United needing to add further quality in the wide areas.
Not only that, but Rooney has been a proven goal threat for United for several seasons, while Mata has only really had one top goalscoring campaign so far.
Elsewhere, United must consider what kind of message it sends to prospective signings when Wayne Rooney has had enough to the extent that he departs when the team needs rebuilding, or at least significant additions.
Not the End of United's Problems
Even if Rooney stays for now, even if Mata joins in January, that's not the end of Manchester United's issues.
The central midfield area still needs a proper partnership to develop. There are concerns in more than one area of defence and the depth of the squad in the final third still arguably needs revamping, rather than merely adding to.
Mata will not solve the defensive conundrum—though maybe David Moyes can convince him to put in the hard work that Mourinho believed he wasn't capable of—even though he should help link the attack and create more shooting chances for his teammates. United average five fewer shots per match than rivals Man City and average less than five shots on target per game.
The Chelsea man will be expected to immediately increase United's productivity in front of the goal. He's certainly a player capable of doing that, but he's not the fix to every one of the team's problems.
For this season, though, merely being the attacking link to win enough games to sneak into fourth place could be a masterstroke.
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