Juan Mata PLUS £10m. The United board might have some explaining to do if this is true.
After the non-statement statement about being ‘angry and confused’ the Wayne Rooney story took another twist this morning. The papers all reported that Chelsea were interested but nobody though they were this interested.
It is being reported this morning that Chelsea offered United £10million, plus one of Juan Mata or David Luiz, in exchange for the unhappy striker. To us, especially if the player involved was indeed Mata, that is a brilliant offer. That United turned it down is certainly a surprise but perhaps David Moyes wants, or needs, cash to bring in a player like Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini or Cesc Fabregas.
Anyway, if this is true, it confirms that Chelsea really do want Rooney and it also confirms reports from earlier in the summer that Jose Mourinho doesn’t really fancy Juan Mata.
We would rate Mata as one of the best players in the Premier League based on his performances last year but hey, what do we know.
The saga will, we expect, continue…
UPDATE: 1.10pm: Chelsea release a statement on the Rooney transfer, and suggest the talk of players came from Manchester United, who are in Australia at the moment.
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that yesterday it made a written offer to Manchester United for the transfer of Wayne Rooney”
“The terms of the offer are confidential, for avoidance of doubt and contrary to what is apparently being briefed to the press in Sydney the proposed purchase price does not include the transfer or loan of any players from Chelsea to Manchester United.”
