Report: Leeds want recently released Man Utd star, Orta has made contact

Follow us on Google Discover

Leeds United are reportedly lining up a shock move to sign former Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata, with the Spaniard recently being released by the Red Devils.

According to AS, the Whites are one of numerous sides interested in signing the 34-year-old, with the report stating that Victor Orta has already made contact with Mata’s representatives over a potential deal, with clubs from Spain and Turkey looking at signing Mata on a free transfer.

The midfielder spent eight years at United to mixed success, with Mata making 285 appearances for the Manchester giants and winning the FA Cup and UEFA Europa League, though the creative midfielder’s time was mostly hampered through injuries and being on the bench.

However, now a free agent, Mata is able to choose his next destination this summer, and Leeds could now be an option for the veteran playmaker with AS stating that the two parties ideally want a transfer wrapped up sooner rather than later.

Indeed, Leeds have been very busy in the transfer window under Jesse Marsch, with the American coach signing a host of impressive players from Brenden Aaronson to Luis Sinisterra, though the Whites have lost Kalvin Phillips and are now on the verge of selling Raphinha to FC Barcelona.

However, the Elland Road side have worked well with the resources they have to plug in these holes and improve the overall quality of the squad, and signing Mata could be a masterstroke from Marsch if he can beat Spanish and Turkish sides to the midfielder’s signature.

Signing Mata could be to Marsch what Hernandez was to Bielsa

At 34-years-old and Spanish, signing Mata this summer will draw up one comparison for Leeds fans, that being club icon Pablo Hernandez, who under Marcelo Bielsa in the final years of his career was one of the best players in the Whites’ squad and to this day remains a cult hero in Yorkshire.

And Mata could have a similar impact under Marsch as Hernandez did for Bielsa, with the former United star a player who could really elevate the quality in Leeds’ squad as well as offer the American manager a brilliant option in the reserves, especially if the coach sticks with the 4-2-3-1 formation.