Athletic Bilbao want to offer Juan Mata a return to Spain as he gets set to leave Manchester United.
The 31-year-old has been offered a one-year extension with his deal up at Old Trafford in the summer.
He appears set to leave as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ponders a summer overhaul of a squad who are likely to miss out on Champions League qualification.
A return to Spain appears to be his likeliest option with Athletic Bilbao offering him a two-year deal, according to The Sun.
Valencia are believed to be interested in re-signing the former Spain international.
While Chris Hughton is reportedly keen to keep him in the Premier League at Brighton, after they secured their survival following Cardiff's defeat by Crystal Palace.
Mata has played only eight of Solskjaer's 19 Premier League games in charge since he replaced the sacked Jose Mourinho in December.
But he remains a popular figure at the club, ever since joining Chelsea in a £38million deal in 2014.
United are sixth in the Premier League going into the final two games of the season and face already-relegated Huddersfield on Sunday.
They are relying on results elsewhere going their way to secure a top four finish.
VijayCantona
1
juan mata should stay in MU
SINGAM23
6
The Most Popular Figure @ Manchester United
Kylestewart
4
He ain’t Basque so can’t play for them. Derp
Grialdo
1
Article now says Brighton, not Athletic Bilbao. Similar
Lovelahm
0
Ffs let him go. He literally has no legs left anymore. He's gonna only get worse from here. Why do we keep holding on to players till they are completely useless
vamosl
1
Mata gets outproduced by guys like Ashley Westwood, Ryan Fraser etc. He should not be playing for a club of this size.
Charleses
1
Mata hasn't played as much partly because he's had injuries and also because he's not good enough to start even when he's fit.
TDgarden
1
Mata isn't good enough anymore to challenge our starting players which is want you should have in a squad. Why have him if he's never a threat to our starters who would get complacent. We need players that push them and Mata wont do that
rucksackers
0
The guy doesn't start in our strongest 11. If we get a RW he'll be like 4th choice in our 4-3-3 which he is badly suited to anyway as he has no pace or strength . What's the point of keeping someone who is past his prime on those wages to sit on the bench or not even be in the squad?
landrover
0
Letting Mata go isnt butchering our depth. If we get a good, younger player to replace him, we would be doing the exact opposite. Improving our depth and squad as a whole
Brightonen
0
Mata's job has never been that of a goalscorer. Not saying I think he's better than either but that's a lazy comparison IMO.
Dioruno
0
Juan Mata and Ander Herrera are perfect squad players that would cost far more to replace than to retain.
thereforer
0
Love how our big rebuild has started by giving new contracts to Smalling, Jones, Young and now Mata. Absolutely ruthless by the club. Of course a lot of us knew they were chatting bullshit but it’s still funny to see.
outspoken
0
If Herrera is going to PSG as we are all sure he will be, Mata is the only Spaniard on United other than De Gea. For the goal of keeping De Gea on for a new contract I think we need Mata to stay on. Not only is he a fellow Spaniard to De Gea, but hes a great guy to have encouraging DDG and the rest of the squad. Mata has value beyond his contributions on the pitch.
humidityi
0
Mata has proven time and time again he is dependable when call upon Juve freekick, good performance vs Liverpool before going off injured So long as he is as a rotational player I'm happy with
Vezonic22
1
Hope it can be a swap deal with a good player from Athletico Bilbao. Won't mind that at all
makejin
0
Mata might not have the same pay packet if he leaves but it would be everything to his football if he could play centre mid again.
Brandonjick
0
if we let him go on a free he'll go somewhere like Valencia or Sevilla, not Atletico. They have even less need for a #10 than we do.
damone
0
Juan needs to leave. I don't want him to rot away at our bench anymore. He deserves to go to Atletico or sth
Johabklmy
1
utd must go for benfica wonderkid Florentino Luis he is Pogba+Kante elements he'll turn 20 in August go for him before he is 100$.
yuzbclmtu
0
Go back home, do not go to brighton,they may get relegated next season
At not ad
yuzbclmtu
1
Go back home, do not go to brighton,they may get relegated next season
You can even play europa league ad athletic billbao
yuzbclmtu
2
Go back home, do not go to brighton,they may get relegated next season