Manchester United Transfer News: Juan Mata an Acceptable Loss Under New Regime

For some at Old Trafford, the idea of Juan Mata being sold to fit the new order is an unthinkable one, but with the direction the club are heading in, it may come to pass that the Spaniard is moved on once again.

According to the Mirror's John Cross, Juventus are plotting to sign the midfielder in January, but if the reimbursement is deemed satisfactory, it's a transfer the Red Devils should be open to. Cross writes:

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Juve will see whether the Manchester United playmaker is surplus to requirements after Louis Van Gaal's summer spending spree.

[...]

Juventus will watch developments closely and then move for Mata if they progress into the knock out stages of the Champions League and have money to spend.

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The summer arrivals of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao gives Louis van Gaal a healthy array of attacking options, but with so many choices also comes the dilemma of fitting so much talent into a suitable setup.

Thus far in his tenure, the Dutch tinkerer has opted for a 3-5-2, with Wayne Rooney reverting back to his role up front, while Mata has been allowed to roam in his more favoured No. 10 spot.

Tony Ding/Associated Press

With Robin van Persie returning to fitness, he and Falcao will contend for the striker roles, and should Van Gaal persevere with the same formation, a new home will need to be found for Rooney.

As one of the most rounded assists at Old Traford, it's foreseeable that the captain, a figure whom Van Gaal is perhaps under some pressure to field, will therefore drop deeper into a more provisional slot.

It doesn't help Mata's case that Di Maria and Ander Herrera are also capable of shifting into that position and providing central ammunition to the pair ahead of them.

So, where does that leave Mata? Given their current crop of stars, United are most likely to field line-ups utilising three in midfield, handing the likes of Di Maria, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and others their opportunities.

Due to the width being provided by wing-backs, however, it sees Mata somewhat at odds in the picture, and the Spaniard would most likely grow discontent if he were to be relegated from the starting XI or exclusively fielded out wide.

The Daily Mail's Craig Hope argues that a place on the bench now looks likely for Mata, and given that Van Gaal wasn't the manager who brought him in eight months ago, it's not outside the realms of possibility to think as much:

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has also weighed in on the matter in his Independent column, insisting that Rooney, Falcao and Van Persie can't be fielded simultaneously:

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At United, on loan for this season initially, Falcao creates competition in United’s forward line. There is no way that Louis van Gaal can play Rooney, Robin van Persie and Falcao together. It will have to be two from three and which two it is hard to say as yet.

Credit has to go to Ed Woodward, who has left Van Gaal a squad that should be capable of finishing in the top four. I don’t think the league title is realistic but Champions League football is the aim. Now it is over to Van Gaal to shape the team. The big question for the United manager will be how he gives all his players games. That is quite some squad and only two competitions left to play for. That is a nice problem to have.

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The 26-year-old still holds value, though, and the club may feel that selling his talents now and reinvesting in a player more fitting of the new tactics would be preferable to keeping Mata around as a mere alternative.

John Brewin of ESPN attests that while Mata's figures are more than satisfactory, this wouldn't be the first time he's fallen victim to circumstance:

In fact, it wouldn't even be the second, as his time at Chelsea ultimately came to an end thanks to Jose Mourinho's vast wealth of options in attacking midfield, not because Mata wasn't good enough for the cause.

As captain of United and England, not to mention a figure who commands £300,000 of the club's weekly wage output, Rooney has to be involved to a certain extent when fit. Talent notwithstanding, there's a degree of political weight on his side of any argument.

Ian Walton/Getty Images

Juve wouldn't be among the heaviest spenders in Europe, however, and to recoup a lot of their £37.1 million investment, the Red Devils may have to wait for another suitor to emerge.

That being said, while supremely talented, Mata may be unfortunate once again in being the square peg for a round hole, and a high-priced commodity who would otherwise be wasted on the sidelines.