Juan Mata Transfer Update

Football is today fuelled by money, with clubs spending hundreds of millions of pounds every year to fund facilities and players to make their club better and a force to be reckoned with in the footballing world. However, with big money comes big debt, and most clubs are burdened with some sort of debt - Valencia F.C. are one of those clubs, but their situation is quite severe.

Valencia's debt is reported to be around €500 million, and they have already been forced to sell two of their biggest stars in David Villa and David Silva to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively to go some way to clear that debt that been a weary load on their backs for a while. Now clubs are circling like vultures, watching another of Valencia's stars, Juan Mata, who has a buy out clause of €60 million in the hope of a possible transfer deal being struck.


The clubs that have certainly contacted Valencia over a move for Mata are Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. That inside knowledge is thanks to the Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who stated on his website:

"Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have contacted Mata`s representative (his father) and the trio have all expressed varying degrees of interest in the player`s situation. Mata`s new contract contains a buy out clause of €60 million, but that will always be negotiable if both the player and the club are willing to listen to offers."

Mata's agent and father confirmed the interest from Premier League clubs:

"I still get calls from many agents in England but we are calm. If we get an offer in writing then we will take it to Valencia and let them decide." 

Liverpool it seems have been the most active in the pursuit of the 23 year-old, as reports have emerged that the players representative has recently been to Liverpool to hold a meeting with the Liverpool Director of Football who has offered £17 million for the player.

Manchester City however have the power in their hands, as they have the money in their hands too - a bottomless pit of it, and one that Valencia so desperately need. City have the spending power to outbid Liverpool at any price, and despite Liverpool's new owners and need for a quality winger such as Mata, could only possibly go to a certain amount, and no more.

Other reports state that Manchester City have offered £25 million for Mata, whilst Chelsea and Manchester United less involved in a move. Sir Alex Ferguson has however stated his desire to bring three new players into the Manchester United squad: "I am looking at maybe three signings which would boost our overall quality in our team." Whether or not Mata is one of those hopeful signing we will have to wait and see when the transfer window opens. 


If United did really want to bring Mata to Old Trafford, they could perhaps use Ryan Giggs as a make-weight - Mata is a very big fan of the United legend and would no doubt pounce at the chance of working and even playing with him in the United side. Mata once said: "I've liked him a lot since I was little. I think he's one of the best wingers I have ever seen."


Mata is a very good winger himself, justifying the wide interest in his signature with eight goals and 12 assists in this seasons La Liga. It is really down to Valencia though - do they let go of one of their best players, and for how much will they - if they are willing - command as a fee for his services?

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Man City's Shay Given and Adam Johnson Want Out

Money doesn't buy happiness apparently - even if you are a footballer. It has emerged that both Shay Given and Adam Johnson of Manchester City are becoming more and more frustrated by the lack of starts that they are handed, and have both threatened to leave the club if the situation doesn't change.

Johnson moved to Manchester City from Middlesbrough on 1 February 2010, and has since announced himself as one of the biggest English attacking forces from his position in the country. He was called up to the England first team and scored 2 goals against Bulgaria and Switzerland. Yet these achievements have not nailed him down a first team spot at Eastlands.

When asked if he would leave City in search of first team football, the 23 year old had this to say:

"Every footballer has to think about it when the time comes. It is still early but I definitely would consider it."

The City number 11 also described how bitterly disappointed he was to be left out against club rivals Manchester United:

"It is disappointing when you are not playing from the start in games like that. I was itching to get on. I was dying to play from the start not just come on. The manager has to make decisions but I was gutted to be left out."

Mancini is starting to choose Milner and David Silva ahead of Johnson in a 5-man midfield which supports the lone striker - usually Carlos Tevez. Many think that the young man deserves first team football as he has proved his brilliant technical ability as well as the great ability to create goals from nothing. His pace can also tear defences apart. However, Roberto Mancini is a far more defensive man than many City fans would like, and prefers to play with less emphasis on the attack, and more on defence. His 3 man defensive midfield of Barry, De Jong and Yaya Toure highlights this.

 

Shay Given knows how the left winger feels too, as the Irish goalkeeper said:

"My own personal situation isn't ideal as everyone knows and I have spoken about it in the past, so we will see what happens over the next couple of months in that respect."

"I want to be playing football and I have always said that, so hopefully something will happen in the New Year."

Arsenal may still be looking for a reliable goalkeeper and could make a move in January, despite the current good form of Lukas Fabianski, and Manchester United are still looking for an Edwin van der sar replacement, so his options are far from limited.

The rise of England number 1 Joe Hart has caused Given to feel isolated, and unable to get a fair run in the team, and having played over 350 games for Newcastle over a 12 year spell, he is not used to it.

Mancini needs to sit down with players such as Johnson and Given and make them feel wanted by the club. It is his job to do so, as it is these hard working, willing players that a team overcrowded with ludicrously over-paid players happy to take their pay cheques and sit on the bench, need.

Manchester City Want Landon Donovan

Manchester City seem to be buying everyone. They have been linked to almost every player in the world and are once again spending money like they are scared of the stuff. Yaya Toure, David Silva and Jerome Boateng are the three that have been confirmed signings, and now Mancini wants to add Landon Donovan to that list.

Donovan impressed with his small loan period with Everton, and also shone as the USA's best player in the World Cup, but Manchester City seems like a big step up from LA Galaxy, whom currently own the player. Donovan played for Bayer Leverkusen but also had a spell on loan with Bayern Munich in his time at the Galaxy as well as Everton, but now it seems he may have to find another home in England because he is heading to Manchester.

Manchester City sure won't be short of attacking options next season, because if the rumours are true, they also want to snap up the Italian bad-boy Mario Balotelli form Inter, who played under Mancini when he was in Italy, which means that City will have around... too many strikers. Tevez, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Jo, Felipe Caceido, Silva, Bellamy, Donovan, and Balotelli.
If there is a sudden mass injury problem, they'll be alright, but other than that, the City ground is going to need a bigger bench, and boy, will it be warm.