Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Cesar Azpilicueta, Juan Mata Rumours

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly ready to return to his old club Chelsea to try to prise away full-back Cesar Azpilicueta.

That’s according to a report from AS' Nika Cuenca (h/t Lewis Winter of the Daily Star), in which it is stated the Portuguese is a big fan of the defender and a potential cut-price switch could well be on the cards.

Azpilicueta is said to be available for a meagre £11.8 million, with Paris Saint-Germain and Athletic Bilbao also linked.

It’s suggested that incoming Blues boss Antonio Conte is ready to listen to offers for the versatile Spaniard, with a change in system on the cards at Stamford Bridge next season.

If there were any chance of United getting a deal done for the kind of price aforementioned, then it’d be a huge coup for the Red Devils. After all, during his time at Stamford Bridge, Azpilicueta has blossomed into one of the finest full-backs in Europe.

Despite Chelsea enduring a disappointing 2015-16 campaign, these numbers from WhoScored.com show how effective he can be:

"

César Azpilicueta: No player has made more tackles + interceptions combined than Azpilicueta (57) in the Champions League this season

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 9, 2016"

Used as a left-back by Mourinho, Azpilicueta was outstanding. He rarely forayed forward as a lot of modern full-backs like to do, but the Spaniard was always in place to cover for ageing captain John Terry. It allowed the skipper to dominate in the air and prevented his lack of pace from being exposed.

BEN STANSALL/Getty Images

Able to play on either flank, the Red Devils boss would love to have a player who is so versatile and so defensively tenacious in his ranks from next season. However, these are qualities Conte has also shown he values highly during his managerial career, meaning that he’ll surely find a place in his squad for Azpilicueta.

The chance to link up with Mourinho again may appeal to the player. But for the kind of fee noted, the 26-year-old is unlikely to be moving anywhere this summer.

Juan Mata to Be Given United Chance

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

According to David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror, Manchester United boss Mourinho is set to give Juan Mata a chance to prove himself under his tenure.

When the duo linked up at Chelsea, the coach offloaded Mata to the Red Devils, as he struggled to show the requisite discipline and physicality needed to thrive in his setup.

However, it’s been reported by Maddock that all members of the squad will be allowed to show their worth before Mourinho makes a decision on their future.

"Mourinho is understood to be willing to give Mata, who failed to make Spain's squad for Euro 2016, a chance to show he has developed the required work ethic," it's suggested in McDonnell's piece.

As noted by Squawka Football, last term he chipped in with a decent goal haul, including a vital equaliser in the FA Cup final:

While Mourinho has a specific template that he likes to adhere to, even the best teams need that sprinkling of brilliance. It’s something Mata has shown throughout his Old Trafford career that he can provide.

IAN KINGTON/Getty Images

The Portuguese’s predecessor, Louis van Gaal, was also a stickler for detail and positional application, and he was able to find a place for the former Chelsea man in the setup. At times, Mata was used in his preferred position off the centre-forward, but primarily the Spaniard did a fine job in a wide position, drifting infield and finding pockets of space.

The 28-year-old still may not be the most hard-working nor a player with a large appetite for physical battles, but in what’s going to be a key season at Old Trafford, there is surely a way Mourinho can utilise his many talents.