Spurs fail in attempt to sign Spanish playmaker.
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Tottenham have seen an audacious bid for Chelsea playmaker Juan Mata turned down by the club, according to the Telegraph.
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas first brought the Spaniard to the Premier League during his time in charge at Stamford Bridge, and has been frustrated in recent days after his old club beat him to the signing of Brazilian forward Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala.
With Gareth Bale edging closer to a big-money move to Real Madrid, Villas-Boas is keen to sign attacking midfielders to replace him, and will now turn his attention to main targets Erik Lamela and Hulk, after an ambitious attempt to prise Mata away from Chelsea.
Mata’s future at the club is by no means certain though, with Manchester United reportedly keen to sign him as part of a potential deal to sell Wayne Rooney to Chelsea. It is thought that with so many new additions in that position, Jose Mourinho may be willing to listen to offers for the influential midfielder.
The former Valencia man was linked with Barcelona earlier this summer, and could find his starting place in the side under threat with the arrivals of Andre Schurrle and Willian, as well as Kevin De Bruyne’s return from a loan spell with Werder Bremen.