Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Gunners Line Up Bid for Juan Mata

Reports in the Daily Mirror indicate that Arsenal have entered talks with La Liga giants Valencia about securing the services of talented playmaker Juan Mata for around £15 million.

Mata recently shone for the Spanish under-21 contingent in their victorious European Championship campaign. 

The Mirror reports that Arsenal feel confident that a deal can be reached because they are in a position to comfortably increase Mata's current £30,000 a week wages.

This would be a bold move and something of a transfer coup for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.  Capturing the signature of a player as touted as Mata would be a welcome boost for Arsenal supporters who are growing anxious amidst the club's current lack of activity in the transfer market.

Captain Cesc Fabregas and fellow attacking midfielder Samir Nasri are continually linked with big money exists.  If Wenger loses the creative nucleus of his side, it will be hard for many Arsenal fans to feel positive about the team's realistic chances of competing for major honours.

A swoop for Mata could assuage many doubts and fears.  The cerebral midfield schemer is the perfect playmaker to thrive in Arsene Wenger's fluid, attacking style of play.  Mata is nominally listed as a left winger but is also comfortable directing the play from a central position.

Signing Mata would give Arsenal a lot of options in the forward areas.  The Mestalla product's cultured passing would allow him to replace Fabregas at the top of Arsenal's midfield triangle. 

His terrific pace and intricate ball skills mean that Mata could also seamlessly slot into the wide left berth commonly occupied by Nasri last season.

The Mirror feels Mata's potential arrival could even be used to convince one of Arsenal's wantaway stars to remain and push the club on to greater heights. 

Most of all though, an audacious raid for Mata would be a sign of encouragement from Arsenal to their fans that the club is seriously committed to striking for the biggest prizes this season.