Transfer Talk: Barcelona Target £30m Juan Mata

Mata Of Time Till Juan Leaves?

There may be little to like about Chelsea but there is little to dislike about Juan Mata, their outstanding player of last season. Yet for a club whose image is as bad as Alicia Duvall's, their Spanish attacker is constantly being linked with a transfer, and Barcelona have now emerged as a potential suitor.

The Mirror claim José Mourinho isn't convinced by Mata, which seems utterly bizarre when the 25-year-old is one of the outstanding attacking midfielders on the continent. Even the reticent Paul Scholes said he was one of his favourite players.

Mata is that rare Chelsea commodity - a class act off the pitch as well as on it, however his future has become uncertain since Mourinho arrived.

Mata has been outstanding for Chelsea in his two seasons at the Bridge

It is also debatable whether Barça are the best fit for a player who, while versatile, excels centrally rather than on the wing, which is where he would likely be stationed by the Blaugrana.

Edinson Cavani will not be arriving at Stamford Bridge, though, claim the Star. The Uruguayan's father said last week his son would prefer to join Real Madrid, although the Primera Liga side would have to trigger his £54 million buy-out clause.

Mata's compatriot and 2011 Under-21 European Championship winner Thiago Alcantara scored a hat-trick in Spain's 2013 final success on Tuesday night and predictably he is linked with Manchester United again.

United have scouted Thiago, whose buy-out clause has fallen from €90m to €18m until the end of August. A snip at £15m, it is paramount David Moyes addresses the squad's midfield malaise, which was instrumental in their two Champions League final defeats in 2009 and 2011.

Liverpool failed with a bid to sign Luis Alberto earlier this week but the Independent remain optimistic, writing the Reds will sign the 20-year-old Spaniard by Thursday.

Aston Villa outcast Darren Bent is available for £8m, the Mail writes.

Time to leave: Bent is a peripheral figure at Villa Park

Now 29, Bent's contract at Villa Park does not expire until 2015, which makes the aforementioned fee relatively reasonable despite his lack of game-time under Paul Lambert last season.

Staying in the midlands and Birmingham City's 19-year-old winger Nathan Redmond is the subject of a few Premier League enquires, according to the Mirror.

Crystal Palace, Swansea, Fulham and Norwich have all made £2m offers for the England Under-21 international.

And Borussia Dortmund's wont for prudent business could continue, with Valencia's French defender Adil Rami - linked with Arsenal previously - set to join the Champions League finalists, say L'Équipe.

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