What next for United if Mata's transfer fails?

Mata is the latest player to be linked with Manchester United

According to the latest rumors, Manchester United are actively pursuing Chelsea’s Juan Mata, a player who has been shown total disrespect by Jose Mourinho this season, in a bid to bolster their frail midfield. Some tabloids also suggest that United and Chelsea have reached a £40 million agreement for the player. The rumor may turn out to be untrue, but the main question is Mata really the answer to United’s midfield problems? The answer will only reveal itself when Mata performs on the pitch if he ever becomes a Red. Until then we can only come up with possible scenarios.

Shinji Kagawa, who has similar abilities to Mata, arrived at United to add some much needed creativity to their midfield, but the Japanese playmaker has only displayed fleeting glimpses of the form that wowed everyone while he was at Borussia Dortmund. The 24-year-old has been brilliant for United on some occasions, even managing to score a hat-trick against Norwich last year, but is still finding his feet in the Premier League. Mata,like Kagawa, is always deployed as an attacking midfielder behind the striker but United who often use the 4-4-2 formation will most likely play him as a wide player which is not his best position.

If Mata is played right then he can be a wonder for the Red Devils as he is a proven player in the Premier League who has scored plenty of goals unlike Kagawa. The two time Chelsea player provided 35 assists and scored 20 of Chelsea’s 100 goals last season but lost his place to Oscar under Jose Mourinho this season. Mata would love to join United as he knows that they are on the hunt for a midfielder and will certainly guarantee him plenty of playing time which would dramatically increase his chances of starting for Spain in Brazil at the World Cup.

The Old Trafford faithful, who are waiting for a change, will surely welcome Mata with open arms but should not get too excited just yet. After all every club are not Arsenal and won’t sell a brilliant player to one of their rivals. People must not forget the Mourinho prevented Demba Ba from joining Arsenal as he feared they would become title contenders in they had the striker. The Portuguese tactician may do the same thing in Mata’s case. No matter how much the Special One denies it, deep down he knows Manchester United are still very much in the title contenders. If and when he decides Mata’s time is up Mourinho will most likely sell him to a foreign club like Atletico Madrid who have expressed their interest in the player.

In case things don’t go as planned and Mata doesn’t end up at Manchester United there are quite a few players who are more than capable of playing at Old Trafford. Julian Draxler is one fine example. The German playmaker, who has scored 5 goals so far this season including 4 in European competitions, will fit into the United set up perfectly as he can play as a more traditional central midfielder. Another player who can be United’s saving grace is their very own Nick Powell. The 19-year-old has managed to score an impressive 10 goals for his temporary club Wigan Athletic this season and has been compared to Paul Scholes by Sir Alex himself. Moyes will definitely give the young attacker a chance when he returns to Old Trafford next season.

The only thing left to do now is to wait and watch what happens as rumors will come and go but only David Moyes knows whats really going on in his mind. Even if Mata does not arrive at the Theater Of Dreams it can be guaranteed that at least one big name will arrive at United in the future.