Juan Mata: Man Utd yet to make bid for Chelsea midfielder

 Manchester United have not bid for Juan Mata, but refuse to rule out making a future offer for the Chelsea player.

The 25-year-old is a player United boss David Moyes admires but Chelsea's valuation, believed to be more than £35m, could be a stumbling block.

Mata has struggled for regular football under manager Jose Mourinho and has not figured at all since New Year's Day.

United have no intention of selling England striker Wayne Rooney as part of any deal.

Chelsea are however anticipating a bid for the playmaker in January despite the club's firm public stance that he will not leave. Mourinho told Football Focus at the weekend that Mata needed to "adopt to the direction" he was taking the team, but that he "didn't want him to go" - bbc

 Manchester United have made a club-record bid in the region of £35m for Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata.

Mata, 25, has been linked with a move from Stamford Bridge having struggled to hold down a regular starting place under Jose Mourinho.  United deny making an official offer, but an initial bid has been tabled through intermediaries acting on behalf of the Premier League champions.

Mata did not train with Chelsea's first team on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Chelsea insisted that Mata, who has been voted the club's player of the year two seasons in a row, was not for sale.

 "If we can do any business now then we will certainly try to do it, but I will not comprimise the standards required for a player that can come into this club and help improve it."

Chelsea boss Mourinho, 50, said last week that while he understood it was "hard" for Mata to sit on the bench, the Spaniard still had a "big role" to play at the club. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25849959