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What's the story?
With the transfer window coming to end in a few days, Arsenal are determined to bring in reinforcements, with Manchester United starlet Juan Mata topping their list.
According to trusted media outlet Mirror, Mata is emerging as a shock Arsenal transfer target and Manchester United will face a tough fight to retain the services of the veteran midfielder.
In case you didn't know...
Mata has been a prominent performer with Manchester United over the past few seasons. The veteran Spanish midfielder, who will turn 31 this April, displayed amazing performances against big teams and proved to be decisive since his arrival in the English Premier League.
The Spaniard has scored 77 goals in 342 appearances for both Chelsea and Manchester United and has been praised for pundits and critics alike for his vision, range of passing and impact in the final third.
The heart of the matter
The Red Devils are in talks with Juan Mata over a new contract, but his future with the club seems to be in doubt. His contract is set to expire in the summer of 2019 and clubs can work out a pre-contract to sign the player for free after the end of the season.
On the other hand, Arsenal are keen to bolster their forward line and provide the new boss Unai Emery with vital reinforcements to help the club challenge for silverware in the near future. Due to lack of funds, Arsenal have been prompted to look for better and cheaper options. And a player of Mata's caliber will be a perfect fit for the club.
Unai Emery and Mata have previously worked together during their Valencia stint and it turned out to be quite fruitful. This could well prompt the player to consider joining United's arch-rivals.
According to reports, top clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and even Barcelona, who are also in the hunt for a creative midfielder, are looking towards Mata as an option too.
Rumor rating: 6/10
Arsenal are desperate to make a signing and provide Emery the ammunition he needs to fight for more trophies in the following season. Mata may play a pivotal role if he decides to join Arsenal in that case.
What's next?
Both Arsenal and Manchester United are fighting for the top four spot at the moment. While Emery has managed to do a good job so far with The Gunners, Manchester United looks better on the pitch under the guidance of interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The departure of a key player like Mata will only hamper United's new-found hopes, and his move will obviously increase the depth of the Arsenal squad.
