Juan Mata Has Secured His Short-Term Future at Manchester United

The transfer window system is barely a decade old, but January rumours are as much a part of the festive football schedule as yellow balls and gloves.

The winter window officially opens this week. And with it, the flurry of speculation linking players you've never heard of with clubs who don't want them will kick into gear.

It's the time of year when anything, it seems, is possible. If the new year isn't a time for a football fan to dream, then when is? 

It is likely, as they are most years, that Manchester United will be at the centre of the transfer talk. It's not without cause, as Louis van Gaal continues to reshape his squad. There will be players leaving and arriving at Old Trafford, if not in this window then the next.

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But one player whose future seems secure, at least for now, is Juan Mata. It's quite a turnaround after the Spanish midfielder spent most of November on the bench.

His performance against Newcastle on Boxing Day and in the first half against Tottenham were two of his best in a United shirt. He is almost certain to start against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on New Year's Day. And if he bothers to pick up the papers on the morning of the game, it's unlikely he'll see his name linked with a move away.

It looked like things might work out differently for the former Chelsea midfielder when Van Gaal was unveiling Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao in the summer. 

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As Mata sat on the bench for games against Leicester, West Ham, Manchester City, Arsenal and Crystal Palace, it looked like he might have to move to find regular first-team football.

But slowly, he is finding his place under Van Gaal. He's started to thrive in his advanced midfield role next to Wayne Rooney. And with it, the stories suggesting he might leave have disappeared. After all, United are not in the habit of selling good players enjoying a good run of form.

The battle, though, is not over. When Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj return from injury and illness, respectively, Mata faces a fight to stay in the team. It seems impossible that Van Gaal can pick Robin van Persie, Rooney, Falcao, Di Maria, Januzaj and Mata in same XI. One, at least, will always have to miss out.

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Earlier in the season, Mata was the one sidelined. Back in the team thanks to fortune as much as anything, a wonderful performance against Newcastle full of invention and creativity showed just what he brings to the team.

If he keeps playing like that, he'll make it hard for Van Gaal to leave him out. But that's a conversation for a different day. He's already done enough to ensure he'll stay beyond January.