Speaking on his podcast, Phil Hay has been discussing Leeds United’s recent links to Juan Mata.
In one of the more left-field transfer stories of the summer, Leeds were linked with Mata by Spanish outlet AS earlier this week, and while this rumour sounds bizarre, AS are one of Spain’s more respected news outlets.
However, according to Hay, sources within Leeds are denying that there is any truth to these links, and the journalist himself states that this transfer wouldn’t make sense.
What’s been said?
Hay shared what he’d heard about Mata and Leeds.
“It was a no from Leeds for that one, but there are people in Spain who are saying that there has been contact. I don’t see how that falls into the recruitment model though. It doesn’t seem right and they’ve already gone at the midfield and got bodies in. So, Juan Mata, it was a no from this end, but it was a murmur from the Spanish end,” Hay said.
Wouldn’t make sense
Mata joining Leeds would have been entertaining to see, but as Hay says, it’s a transfer that would have made very little sense in the grand scheme of things.
At this moment in time, Leeds don’t need a new attacking midfielder after signing Brendan Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra, and at the age of 34 and on big wages, Mata would be a rather pointless signing.
Described as a ‘lovely footballer’ in the past, Mata certainly has a lot of talent, but at his age, he’s past his best and no longer suited to the physicality of the Premier League.
Factor in his links to Manchester United and it’s fair to say that this transfer rumour may be nothing more than just speculation.
Mata probably won’t be joining Leeds this summer.
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