MAN UNITED MAKE £40M BID FOR MATA THROUGH A THIRD PARTY

Manchester United make £40m bid for Juan Mata through a third party according to Skysports source.
Mata, 25, has been linked with a move from Stamford Bridge having struggled to hold down a regular starting place under Jose Mourinho.United deny making an official offer, but an initial bid has been tabled through intermediaries acting on behalf of the Premier League champions.Mata did not train with Chelsea's first team on Wednesday.On Tuesday, Chelsea insisted that Mata, who has been voted the club's player of the year two seasons in a row, was not for sale.But the playmaker, who was part of the Spain squad which won the World Cup in 2010 and European Championship in 2012, has been substituted in nine of his 13 Premier League appearances for the Blues this season, prompting speculation other clubs could bid for him in the January transfer window.The initial offer is likely to be rejected with Chelsea holding out for as much money as possible with more than a week to go until the transfer window closes.However, United are prepared to pay a premium for top players on David Moyes's list of targets if it means securing them now rather than waiting until the summer.Chelsea paid £23.5m to sign Mata from Valencia in 2011. The former Real Madrid youth player had impressed during four seasons with the Spanish club and began life in England by scoring 13 goals in his debut season as Chelsea won the FA Cup and Champions League.
He followed it up with 20 goals in the 2012/13 season as Chelsea lifted the Europa League under Rafa Benitez but, since Mourinho returned for his second spell at the club, Mata has seen his playing time limited.
Mourinho, 50, said last week that whilst he understood it was "hard" for Mata to sit on the bench, the Spaniard still had a "big role" to play at the club.