LONDON-
A club record deal to sign Spanish midfielder Juan Mata from Chelsea was agreed upon by the Manchester United on Friday.
A deal of 37 million-pound (44.5 million euros) will be finalized by United after Mata,25, passes a medical and negotiates personal terms with the Premier League champions.
The transfers would break r United’s previous record fee of 30.75 million pounds paid to sign Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham in 2008.
“Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Chelsea Football Club for the transfer of Juan Mata for a club-record fee,” United said in a statement.
“The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course.”
Mata is expected to have his medical on Saturday and, unless there are any delays, he will be making his United debut in Tuesday’s Premier League clash against Cardiff at Old Trafford.
United manager David Moyes desperately needed a high-profile signing to lift the gloom after a miserable start to his reign as Alex Ferguson’s successor.
Since replacing Ferguson in July, Moyes has seen United dropping14 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, while they also crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round against Swansea and suffered an embarrassing League Cup semi-final loss to Sunderland in midweek.
Moyes had been eager to land a quality midfielder since arriving from Everton and he made failed attempts for several top stars, including Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas, before the last transfer window shut in September.
Mata’s inclusion should add much-needed creativity and intelligence to United’s midfield, although the champions also need a more aggressive ball-winner in the mold of former Old Trafford great Roy Keane.
Mata, who cost Chelsea 23.5 million pounds from Valencia in 2011, became available after falling out of favour with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.
– AGENCIES
