Barcelona 'eye Mata on a FREE transfer' as he is yet to extend Man Utd contract

Barcelona want to sign Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata on a free transfer this summer.

The Spanish international's contract is up at the end of the season and he is yet to agree to an extension at Old Trafford, meaning he is free to enter negotiations with foreign clubs.

And according to the Sun, the Catalan giants have contacted Mata's father and agent, Juan Sr., to begin negotiations for a multi-year deal.

Barcelona see the signing of Mata as a 'win-win' situation, with the United player set to be offered rotational game time and should he become unhappy, the 30-year-old could then be sold on for a profit.

Mata has featured intermittently under now-permanent Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, making just five starts since his arrival; although he has been hampered by a hamstring injury in recent weeks.

However the Spaniard did start United's 2-1 victory over Watford on Saturday.

Solskjaer will be acutely aware of other potential transfer headaches with Paul Pogba openly flirting with the idea of a move to Real Madrid recently, while star goalkeeper David De Gea still has a cloud hanging over his future.

De Gea is yet to sign a new deal but he is close to signing a £350,000 per week contract amid reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

The French giants also want to sign Ander Herrera, who like Mata, is free to negotiate with overseas club as his contract expires at the end of the season.

Solskjaer meanwhile is keen on revitalising his squad with young players, and has reportedly targeted the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi to bring in.