Why Liverpool should sign Man United’s Juan Mata
Liverpool have slightly faded away after making a splendid start to their season, failing to win any of their last 4 games in all competitions. Jurgen Klopp will be aiming for a positive set of results when the Reds return to the Premier League this weekend.
The manager did bring in a couple of additions in the summer to bolster his ranks, but one area that seems to be lacking a certain cutting edge is the midfield. The Reds midfielders have all flourished defensively but have barely created chances going forward. A lack of goals has also proven to be an issue in recent weeks.
According to the Sun, Manchester United are in the midst of a contract renewal talks with Spanish midfielder Juan Mata. The former Chelsea star’s current deal expires in the summer and fresh terms are yet to be agreed.
Though a difficult prospect, it would be a good time for Liverpool to approach United regarding a potential deal. The Spaniard, who signed for the Red Devils in 2014 for £37.1m, has often been restricted to bench roles in recent seasons and could fill the hole in Liverpool’s midfield setup.
He is a proven Premier League performer and has plied his trade with some of the biggest clubs so far. Mata is known for his technical brilliance on the ball and possesses a wide variety of qualities to flourish under Jurgen Klopp.
The 30-year-old made the move to Old Trafford from Chelsea in 2014 and has since gone to make a total of 144 league appearances for them. He has scored a total of 31 goals and has come to the forefront on a number of occasions. (Stats courtesy – Premier League)
Mata is capable of creating chances, finding spaces between the lines and can chip in with the goals when needed. The 30-year-old has tormented Liverpool on a number of occasions as well, scoring a superb brace to down the Reds in 2015.
He possesses a sublime touch on the ball and rarely gives away possession. The only aspect where the Spaniard might lack is Klopp’s intense demand from his players to defend seamlessly. But at this point, its clear Liverpool have enough midfielders who are capable of covering the defence.
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What the Reds lack is a playmaker, someone who can make things happen in the final third and create more chances. This is why bringing in Mata would totally make sense.
Given that his contract is set to expire in the summer, Liverpool might also be able to sign him on a cut-price deal instead of spending big.