Barcelona Transfer News: Shock Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata Rumours Emerge

A report by Spanish publication Sport suggests Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata "have been offered" to Barcelona.

Tomas Andreu of Sport provides details:

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Agents working on behalf of Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata, who ensure they have an official mandate with Manchester United, have said that these two players are willing to end their Old Trafford careers and start a new adventure, away from the Premier League. Given their status, Barcelona would be an ideal destination for them.

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However, Andreu indicates neither player is wanted by the Blaugrana. Andreu suggests Barcelona aren't even willing to find out the price of both stars, "unlike the way they are treating (Manchester City's) David Silva and (United's) Ander Herrera."

Transfer News Live tweeted an image of Sport's corresponding headline:

Rooney and Mata have both experienced a range of ups and downs this season. United boss Louis van Gaal has misused both players before returning them to form in their more favoured roles.

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For instance, Rooney has only been deployed in his preferred striking role across 13 of 30 Premier League appearances this season, according to WhoScored.com.

Van Gaal favoured his muscle in midfield earlier in the campaign, a position which highlights his lack of distribution quality. Rooney notched a glut of goals when injuries insisted he returned up top but slunk back toward frustration when pushed back into midfield during the April 18 loss to Chelsea.

Mata has faced a fight to just get on the pitch. He has made 23 starts this season, per WhoScored, and was a pivotal figure through United's successful run of fixtures in March. The Spaniard netted a memorable double in the 2-1 win over Liverpool, provided an assist against Aston Villa and scored in the 4-2 Manchester derby win.

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He continues to be used in a dynamic role from the right wing, which allows him to come inside and help United maintain possession. Mata is working well with Herrera, another player Van Gaal failed to properly utilise earlier in the season.

Last year, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague suggested Herrera is the "natural heir" to Barca's Andres Iniesta in his article for The Telegraph:

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An intelligent, quick attacking midfielder with a great brain and a superb attitude he is not dissimilar to his idol, Andres Iniesta, who might or might never get Andres highs but he is nevertheless considered by many to be the logical successor in the Spanish side to Barcelona’s mercurial maestro.

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Barca continue to utilise a possession-based style of football, although they have become more aggressive under Luis Enrique. Herrera and David Silva are perhaps the best fits, offering forward-thinking and incisive retention skills. Rooney's often cumbersome style wouldn't suit the Camp Nou side one iota.

Many United fans will be expecting a huge splurge of cash to be spent during the summer to help Van Gaal fight for the Premier League title. Barca cannot sign anyone until January 2016 due to their current transfer ban but are likely to be weighing up options well before the restrictions are lifted.