With the Daily Star reporting that Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata is attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in a £40m deal, here is five reasons as to why I would suggest it would suit both parties if the Spaniard made an exit.
1) Striker
Selling Juan Mata would certainly free up a large chunk of money in both the transfer fee and the wages which could be put to use in other areas of the squad. Radamel Falcao is said to be on the radar of Mourinho so the club could use that money to lure the Colombian forward to Stamford Bridge.
2) Competition
Although competition is a natural thing in football, there is a hell of a lot of it in the Chelsea midfield right now. In the attacking areas alone Mata is up against Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Andre Schurrle, Kevin De Bruyne and Frank Lampard for a spot.
3) World Cup
To ensure he is selected for the Spanish national side ahead of the World Cup next summer, Mata needs stage where he is settles and performing at his best. Right now he seems a little off the pace.
4) De Bruyne
Should Chelsea get rid in the new year, it may tempt De Bruyne into staying in west London. Although the Belgian isn’t currently at the level of Mata, his potential is quite remarkable and we have already seen glimpses of what he’s about this season.
5) First choice
Mata performs best when he is the key man in the squad – we saw that last season. Eden Hazard holds that acclaim at Chelsea right now, so in my eyes Mata should look elsewhere for the title.