Reports have surfaced that Valencia is ready to accept an offer for Juan Mata after previously insisting he is not for sale.
The Spanish U21 star has been linked with a move to Premier League clubs Arsenal and Liverpool, but talk of a Premier League switch was quashed by his current club ten days ago with president Manuel Llorente explicitly claiming “Juan Mata is not for sale”.
However, the La Liga club, who cashed in on David Villa and David Silva last summer, now appear willing to cash in should the right offer come for Mata.
“The possibility exists that Mata will leave the club,” Valencia manager Unai Emery told Marca. “We want him to stay and Mata has also expressed his desire to stay at Valencia, but at the same time we cannot stop a player who really wants to leave for money or for a bigger club.
“So, if there is a large financial offer from any club, that is good for both us and him, we will have to let him leave.”
Tottenham are also believed to be interested in the winger, but Arsenal’s potential to offer Champions League football next season is understood to put the Gunners as frontrunners for Mata’s signature.
Liverpool’s move for Stewart Downing also suggests their interest will have waned.