Leeds United have opened discussions with the camp of Juan Mata to secure a deal to keep the Spanish free agent in the Premier League after his Manchester United release this summer, according to reports in Spain.
According to Spanish news outlet AS , Leeds' sporting director Victor Orta has been in contact with Mata's father over a potential move to Elland Road for the 34-year-old midfielder. Negotiations are said to be slow at this moment in time; both parties are interested in making the deal happen.
Mata has made 277 Premier League appearances in his career, scoring 50 goals and assisting a further 64. Turkish sides Galatasaray and Besiktas are also said to be interested in the Spaniard, but Leeds are the only team to come forward with an initial offer.
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The 34-year-old was earning over £5m a year on his last contract with the Red Devils, which equates to around £96,000 a week. That is a significant amount to pay for a player of Mata’s age but he could be a useful rotation option for Jesse Marsch and an experienced head to help develop the young players in Leeds’ squad of which there are many.
The Whites have had a busy window of incomings and outcomings, with Marsch signing a host of impressive players from Brenden Aaronson to Luis Sinisterra while losing Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City. They are also on the verge of selling Raphinha to Barcelona with Mata a potential squad option to go towards replacing the Brazilian in the attacking midfield area should Marsch stick with the 4-2-3-1.
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