Valencia Weigh Up £30m Mata Bid Ahead Of Takeover

Valencia are lining up a big-money January move for Juan Mata - but must wait for Peter Lim to complete his takeover of the Spanish side before pursuing a deal for the Manchester United playmaker.

Lim, a Singapore-based businessman, has played a part in summer loan deals for Alvaro Negredo and Benfica pair Rodrigo and Andre Gomes, but is yet to reach an agreement with Bankia over the acquisition of the club.

Valencia have the option to sign Manchester City striker Negredo for £25 million.

And, should Lim's purchase of the club go through, they will turn their attention to re-signing Mata.

The former Chelsea star left Valencia for Stamford Bridge in 2011 but fell out of favour under Jose Mourinho and made a £37.1m January move to Old Trafford in 2014.

The summer arrival of Louis van Gaal, followed by the signings of Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera, have seen Mata's place in the starting XI come under threat.

And while it is unclear whether Mata would consider a return to Spain, United are understood to be willing to entertain offers of around £30m for the 26-year-old.

Valencia are weighing up the possibility of signing Mata on an initial loan deal in January with a view to a permanent move in the summer.

But any potential deal to sign Mata would be impossible if Lim's takeover of the club falls through.

Lim has also recently acquired a 50 per cent stake in Salford City, the Evo-Stik Division One North outfit part-owned by former United players Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary and Phil Neville and Nicky Butt.

Credit: Goal.com