OPINION
BBC pundit Kevin Kilbane is spot on when he suggests that Newcastle should try and sign Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata this summer.
Speaking to the Off the Ball podcast, Kilbane addressed rumours circulating in The Sun earlier this week that the Magpies could look to swoop for the Spanish international.
“Newcastle definitely should sign him. Benitez got the best out of him at Chelsea,” the pundit said . “If he’s going to go back to Spain and Barcelona, that’s a no-brainer.
“But it looks as though he’s going to be gone. He has probably served his time there – Newcastle would be a great signing, but most likely to Barcelona.”
Kilbane is exactly right; Newcastle should go all out for Mata. Since arriving in the Premier League with Chelsea in 2011, the 31-year-old has been one of the most consistent attacking midfielders in the Premier League.
And that is shown in his stats for both the Blues and current club Manchester United. While at Stamford Bridge, Mata scored 32 goals and assisted 58 others in 135 appearances. At Old Trafford, he has so far netted 45 times and set up 37 other goals in 218 games.
Focusing on solely the Premier League, the Spaniard has scored 50 goals and had a hand in 60 others in 243 games, which is not a bad record at all and shows the midfielder’s ability to chip in with goals, both by scoring himself and by assisting teammates.
And perhaps the more exciting thing is, Mata’s contract runs out this summer which means he would be available on a free. And that would be seriously good business for a player of his calibre.
While his career at United has slowly come to a halt, this – and the fact that he is 31 – should not put Newcastle off moving for him. He still possesses great talent and would be fantastic asset.
In fact, if any club would benefit Mata, it would be Chelsea, since he worked with Benitez while the pair were in West London.
But Kilbane is also right in suggesting that Mata may prefer a move to Barcelona. When the Catalan giants come calling, they usually get their man.
We will have to wait and see if Newcastle’s reported interest in Mata materialises, but there is no doubt he would be a great addition to the team.