Juan Mata is due to complete his move to Manchester United today and it might not be the last bit of activity at Old Trafford before the end of this month.
A bit of stalling on Chelsea’s side and Man United’s use of intermediaries (believed to be as a result of difficulties during negotiations over Wayne Rooney in the summer) to do the deal have delayed Mata’s arrival, but he might not be the only new player unveiled by the Red Devils this month.
With Michael Carrick ruled out for four weeks with an ankle injury, David Moyes could go into the market for cover, with the Telegraph again bringing the name of Fredy Guarin into the equation. Inter Milan don’t seem awfully keen to hold onto the Colombian midfielder and their desire to sign Javier Hernandez (who wants to quit United according to The Sun) could lead to a swap deal of sorts between the two clubs.
Should Hernandez leave, he’s likely not to be the only one heading out the exit door between now and the summer, with reports in the Mirror that Fabio da Silva will be allowed join Cardiff City, who are set to be boosted by the arrival of Wilfried Zaha on loan until the end of the season.
The Manchester Evening News, meanwhile, hint at a possible exit for Shinji Kagawa, whose opportunities are likely to be limited if and when Juan Mata arrives. The Daily Mail add to that rumour, saying that Atletico Madrid are interested in the Japanese play-a-maker.
Don’t get too down about those potential exits, United fans, because a little dickie bird has told Michael Owen that there is more good news to come for United soon and don’t let excitement about that news be tainted by thoughts of his use of the word tease in a hashtag shortly afterwards *shudders*.
So, Juan Mata is on the verge of a move to United. A little dickie bird tells me there is more good news for United fans coming soon! #tease
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) January 24, 2014
Fresh from having one of their prime targets stolen from under their noses, Liverpool might also be busy in the next few days, particularly in light of an injury to the unspectacular but very effective Lucas Leiva, who is set to be sidelined for the next couple of months.
The Daily Express say that Brendan Rodgers has his eye on Lucas’ compatriot Romulo, who only joined Spartak Moscow from Vasco da Gama in the summer of 2012.
Moving onto a couple of central defenders and a story in the Daily Mirror that says that John Terry is resigned to leaving Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of the season. JT wants a three-year deal that will effectively see him finish his career with the Blues, but the club want to give him a one-year deal with a reduced salary and the Mirror say that Galatasaray are prepared to swoop if he does decide to end his association with the club for whom he’s played his entire career.
Man City don’t need many players but they could do with a centre-half. Rather than go for Terry, however, the Daily Star say they want Pepe from Real Madrid and have even made a £25 million bid for a man who is not afraid to put a few noses out of joint, literally and figuratively.
Finally, West Ham have had a bid for Michael Essien rejected (Daily Mail), Southampton could be set to sell Dani Osvaldo after a training ground bust-up (which, according to outrageous Twitter rumours, involved a sword of some sort), Paul Lambert will not go back in for Wes Hoolahan after having a £1million bid turned down (Telegraph) and in the least surprising rumour of the day, Harry Redknapp wants to be reunited with Peter Crouch for the umpteenth time by taking him from Stoke to QPR (Mirror).
