Is it time for Chelsea to cash in on Juan Mata?

Chelsea’s eventual comfortable 3-0 win over Southampton will have pleased manager Jose Mourinho, but it left a bitter taste in the mouth for Juan Mata, who looked decidedly unimpressed at being substituted just a few minutes into the second half.

The Spaniard has been a consummate professional this season while spending much of the time on the fringes of the Chelsea squad, but this clearly proved one step too far as the midfielder’s frustration was all too visible.

With rumours flying around of a move away from Stamford Bridge – with Paris St Germain among the interested parties – Mourinho will finally have to make his feelings clear over the 25-year-old. The danger is, though, if Mata is allowed to leave then it could spell problems in their push for the Premier League title.

The influential midfielder was player of the year at Stamford Bridge in his first two years at the club; in 2012/13 he racked up the highest Squawka Performance Score of the entire squad (1558 from 35 appearances) and created a staggering amount of chances, including 12 assists.

Chelsea Chances Created 2012/13

This season, though, he hasn’t been the golden boy of the Chelsea squad. Eden Hazard and Oscar have stepped up their game and, while they are also creating plenty of chances, they are the Blues’ biggest contributor of goals, while Mata has yet to register in the Premier League this term.

New arrival Willian has also been among the goals, grabbing two in 11 appearances, most recently with the second against Southampton on New Year’s Day.

For Mourinho, the key difference is clearly that he wants a more all-round performance from his attacking midfielders. Hazard and Oscar have made far more defensive actions, while going forward the two are always hassling defences. Hazard is on top form this season and is proving a real handful for opposing back lines as he suffers an average of almost three fouls per game.

Mata has shown his quality time and time again at Stamford Bridge, and shipping him out would be considered a very rash move. Against Southampton he was reasonably quiet, but then much of the Chelsea side was in the first half, and he still managed to complete every single one of his passes bar one.

Mata is a proven player and his vision is up there with the best in the league. He fits the mould of Manchester City’s David Silva, and Chelsea could always use a player like him in their arsenal. The festive period can take its toll on a squad – Frank Lampard is out for a month – and Mourinho needs the ones he considers “fringe” players to be of the highest quality.

If Chelsea ship out Mata, it leaves less cover in that key area of the pitch between midfield and attack. Hazard, Oscar and Willian are all top-quality players, but youngster Kevin De Bruyne hasn’t proven himself and after that Chelsea’s midfield is more defensive-minded.

There’s no doubt, then, that selling Mata would be a huge gamble by Mourinho. The question is, though, whether Mata will say “enough is enough” and seek a move away to somewhere he is more appreciated. Manchester United are aching for a creative passer like the Spain international, but the Blues are very unlikely to sell to a rival, and losing such a technically-gifted player would be a bitter blow for the Premier League.