United Rules Out Rooney-Mata Part-Exchange, Pay £40 Million, Says Chelsea.

Chelsea have told Manchester United to table an offer of above £35m for Juan Mata, should the troubled champions insist on the services of the Spaniard.

The 25-year-old midfielder has not featured for the Blues since January 1 as Portuguese manager, Jose Mourinho, insists he will have to “adopt to the direction” he was taking the team.

United manager David Moyes is believed to be an admirer of Mata, but have no intention of letting Wayne Rooney move the other way as part payment for the player, who was voted Chelsea’s official player of the year for the past two season.

Juan Mata May Leave Chelsea if United are Willing to Pay.
Juan Mata May Leave Chelsea if United are Willing to Pay.

Reports on the BBC Sport says senior figures at Old Trafford have intimated the club have not made a bid for the player. However, an offer could be tabled for the Chelsea player in the future as Moyes look to rejuvenate his depleted midfield.

Mata joined Chelsea from Valencia for £23.5m in August 2011 and has scored 18 times in 82 league appearances for the club.

Manchester united lost 3-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and now trails Arsenal by 14 points, six points behind Liverpool, who presently occupies the last Champions League qualification spot.

The highest United has ever played for a player is £30.75m handed Tottenham Hotspur for Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov in 2008.