OPINION
Tottenham might have established themselves as a top four regular but their signings – not that they made any in the summer – have not been at the same level as their rivals in the last 18 months.
Yes, the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Lucas Moura have been outstanding of late but one was a hot prospect from Ajax and the other an outcast at Paris St-Germain – not the sort of proven, competitive talent that other top flight sides are snapping up.
It is testament to the incredible job Mauricio Pochettino is doing that the Lilywhites are still fighting among the top four despite their lack of notable captures, but if the Argentine wants to take Spurs to the next level he needs to seal some top quality talent – which of course comes at a price.
As such, it would be expected that a proven Premier League performer with 229 top flight appearances, 48 goals and 57 assists, not to mention 41 caps for his country which includes a World Cup win, would cost a pretty penny – but that might not be the case.
Step forward Manchester United’s Juan Mata who, according to the Daily Mail, is being left in limbo at Old Trafford as he is left in the dark over his future.
With a reported £140,000-a-week contract (Daily Mail) that expires in the summer of 2019, the 30-year-old has just two months until he can talk to foreign sides about sealing a pre-contract agreement, and it leaves United facing him leaving for nothing in the summer after a fee of £37.1million back in 2014.
Spurs might have plenty of attacking talent already on their books but Mata is the sort of talent that, should the opportunity arise to sign him, should not be scoffed at and considering he could be up for a bargain price – the Red Devils likely to sell him on than lose him for nothing – Pochettino must be heading that queue.
A swoop for Mata would blow all the doubts over the lack of spending in summer away and bring a cutting edge to the club which has been sorely missed at times, not to mention damage a top four rival at the same time.