Catalan giants plotting ambitious move for Chelsea attacker.
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La Liga champions Barcelona could make a shock move to try and sign Juan Mata from Chelsea, according to El Economista.
Mata, formerly of Spanish side Valencia, has been a superb signing for Chelsea since he joined the club for £23.5million in 2011, and has shown he would fit Barcelona’s style of play perfectly.
The 25-year-old can operate either as a winger, or as a deep-lying central midfield playmaker, and is very much in the Xavi and Andres Iniesta mould, though arguably with more of an end product, scoring 20 goals and providing a phenomenal 35 assists for the Blues this season.
With Barcelona undergoing a summer clear-out this year, a number of under-performers such as Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas could leave, making space in the team for Mata, whom the Catalans feel would combine perfectly with Lionel Messi.
Indeed this source claims that Barcelona are ready to offer £17m plus Alexis Sanchez for the Blues creative midfielder.
Chelsea, backed by wealthy Russian owner Roman Abramovich, are not in a position where they need to sell their best players, and so it is likely to take a very sizable bid to prize him away from Stamford Bridge.
Real Madrid have also been linked with Mata, considering him as a possible alternative if they miss out on their first choice summer signing Gareth Bale.