Phil Hay has dismissed talk of Leeds United making a move for free agent Juan Mata.
Leeds have been very active this summer already bringing in six new faces as well as seeing both Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha departing which certainly brings an end to the Marcelo Bielsa era at Elland Road and will allow Jesse Marsch to stamp his authority firmly on this squad.
It seems pretty clear that Marsch and Leeds are targeting young players that are able to grow and develop with the club as they are moulded into a new-look Leeds side, although one latest transfer rumour didn’t fit that bill and it was Premier League veteran Mata.
However, Hay has claimed on The Phil Hay Show that Leeds aren’t looking to bring in the 32-year-old this summer.
Would Mata be a good signing for Leeds?
Yes!
No!
(41:45) “It was a no from Leeds on that, there are people in Spain who say that there has been contact. I don’t know, I don’t see how that kind of falls into the recruitment model.”
TIF Thoughts on Leeds being linked with Mata…
As Hay spoke about, making a move for someone that would likely demand high wages given his stature in the game and being a free agent so not demanding a transfer fee, and also certainly being past his peak would just make very little for Leeds and Marsch.
Mata hasn’t been a regular starter in the Premier League since 2018 with Manchester United so it’s very unlikely that he would arrive at Elland Road and make a big enough impact to warrant his likely high wages, so this one would perhaps be better for Leeds if they swerved it.