Will Juan Mata *actually* sign for Manchester United?

If I hear, see or read the question “Where will Juan Mata fit into the Manchester United side” one more time, I am going to give up on the human race.

According to worldwide reports, the two times Chelsea Player of the Year is set to sign for the Premier League champions for a club record fee of £37m in what will arguably be biggest transfer in the history of English football as it comes between the two most successful sides of the Premier League era.

It is no secret that David Moyes had a torrid time trying to do business in the summer transfer window, seemingly missing out on numerous targets, of which one report claimed Juan Mata was on his hit list along with fellow countrymen Cesc Fabregas and Ander Hererra – but he did land one man in former Evertonian Marouane Fellaini.

The tough tackling Belgian was brought to Old Trafford for £27m and despite the apparent national outcry for a ball winning midfielder to be added to the ranks – something that hasn’t been seen since the days of Roy Keane and Nicky Butt; yet this signing wasn’t enough to keep the United faithful happy, with most wanting a creative player to take over where Paul Scholes had left off.

Six months into the season and on the cusp of completing the deal which would bring the 25 year old to the club, there are still some Manchester United fans moaning. Lord give me strength.

We can all appreciate that so far this has been a disastrous campaign. Out of both domestic cups, a million points behind league leaders Arsenal and keeping one eye on the teams around us which includes Newcastle and Southampton – it hasn’t really gone according to plan so action within this transfer window is an absolute must.

Asking where Juan Mata would fit into the current Manchester United set up is like asking me where a £50 note would fit into my wallet full of fivers – the answer being as simple as anywhere it wants.

We all watched the Capital One cup semi-final against Sunderland didn’t we? No creativity, no fluency, no dynamism… everything was stale.

As obvious as it sounds, when Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie are both fully fit, they both start, with Rooney playing in the deeper role behind the Dutch striker.

Juan Mata excels in this deeper role, so does this mean there are too many cooks in the kitchen?
Definitely not.

Keeping every player within your squad fully fit for an entire campaign is impossible. Ask any manager from any division from any league across Europe.

I have no doubts that Juan Mata would play enough games in his desired position throughout a season to justify this purchase; if it needs any justification anyway?

I can already hear the murmurs of the cynical comparing this to the Shinji Kagawa conundrum. Unfortunately for Kagawa, this is a completely different animal. Popular as he may be, Kagawa has been given time on the pitch; whether it be from the left hand side or centrally, and he has failed to deliver time and time again.

The Japanese star was brought to the club from Germany possessing huge potential, which has never been fulfilled. In Mata there is far more than potential, there is a man who has performed at the highest level on a weekly basis, in this league. Ask any Chelsea fan if they can justify this sale; or justify why he is being left on the bench – and not one will be able to give you valid answer.

Apparently he lacks the ability to see out his defensive duties? Apparently it is a long term feud with blues boss Mourinho from years ago? Either way, if Mata does end up a Manchester United player, I can guarantee it will be a within weeks that he becomes as important to David Moyes side as he was for Chelsea over the past two seasons.

If this transfer goes through, David Moyes deserves an enormous amount of credit for landing a player of this stature.

Do you think this signing will be happen or is it more empty promises?