Newcastle United are set to miss out on reported summer target Juan Mata, according to the Shields Gazette.
The regional newspaper claim that the Manchester United playmaker is poised to sign a new deal at Old Trafford, therefore ending any rumour linking him with a move to St James’ Park.
Rafael Benitez was said to hold an interest in the 31-year-old by the Sun, who reported that the former Liverpool boss was to rival Spanish giants Barcelona for Mata, whose current contract runs out at the end of June.
Part of Benitez’s plan to reunite with Mata, having managed his fellow countryman at Chelsea, was dependant on him signing a new deal to stay in the North East, with the Champions League winning boss waiting for assurances on the club’s transfer policy.
With no new deal currently in place, Newcastle look set to miss out on the £160,000 per-week creative midfielder. [Spotrac]
OPINION
The signature of Mata would have sent out a real signal of intent to Newcastle’s Premier League rivals this summer. Despite looking set to miss out on the 31-year-old, Benitez should be able to rest easy knowing that he has players in similar positions ready to deliver next season. Miguel Almiron is more than capable of taking on the responsibility of being the club’s leading playmaker. Almiron arrived in January and impressed before an injury ruled him out for the season. The Paraguayan offered more in an attacking sense than Mata did last season – attempting more dribbles on average per game (0.7) than the Spaniard (0.5). [WhoScored] Almiron’s positive attitude on the ball led to him attracting more fouls (1.7) [WhoScored], which would allow the Magpies a chance to take advantage of their physicality in and around the box more. Even though Benitez looks unlikely to sign Mata, his record signing is more than capable of stepping up to the plate next season to cause even more problems to opposition defences.
