Leeds can land Hernandez 2.0 in Juan Mata

One of many shock switch rumours of the summer season up to now has seen former Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata linked with a transfer to Leeds United, with the 34-year-old having lately departed Outdated Trafford after eight-and-a-half years following the expiry of his contract.

Whereas sometimes a extremely controversial transfer owing to the extraordinary and historic rivalry between the 2 golf equipment, that’s to not recommend that offers between the pair are out of the query, with the likes of Eric Cantona and Alan Smith simply two of the names to have traded one aspect of the divide for the opposite.

These strikes are often mired in anger and upset, with the promoting social gathering – which has tended to be that of Leeds – feeling aggrieved on the lack of a prized asset to their bitter rivals.

It might not be a direct swap on this occasion, but when ever there was a participant to cross that no man’s land easily, it could in all probability be the diminutive Spaniard, with the much-loved midfielder unlikely to obtain any ill-will from these again in Manchester.

As for these at Elland Street, they are going to be gaining an immensely proficient, albeit ageing, drive who has that innate knack for conjuring up one thing out of nothing, with the “special” veteran – as labelled by Liam Canning prior to now – possessing that outdated cliche of a wand of a left boot.

Whereas Mata’s game-time has diminished in recent times – notably making simply 12 appearances in all competitions final time period – the one-time Chelsea man nonetheless has the standard to unpick opposition defences when required.

A participant who oozes class each on and off the pitch, the inventive “magician” – as he has been described by former team-mate Marcus Rashford – has racked up 630 membership profession appearances up to now, chipping in with 137 targets and 157 assists in that point.

With a wealth of expertise to his title, the 2010 World Cup winner may effectively be prepared for one final hoorah with Jesse Marsch’s aspect, with the Whites little doubt crying out for an extra inventive spark following the departure of Raphinha to Barcelona.

Equally, the signing of the 5 foot 7 ace – who was on a reported £135k-per-week contract with the Crimson Devils – may mirror the earlier seize of Elland Street icon and compatriot Pablo Hernandez, who proved to be one thing of a talisman throughout his five-year spell on the Yorkshire membership.

Signed from Swansea Metropolis in 2016, initially on loan, the attacking menace went on to attain 35 targets and supply 41 assists in 174 video games throughout his spell in Yorkshire, notably netting a vital winner in opposition to his former membership to all however seal promotion again to the top-flight in 2020 after a 16-year exile.

That second alone will all the time signify the 37-year-old as a membership legend, with Hernandez having emerged as an actual shining mild beneath Marcelo Bielsa particularly, with the Argentine as soon as stating of his star participant that he does stuff you merely “can’t teach”, such is his uncommon high quality.

That evaluation can be utilized to Mata, with the 41-cap midfielder – who played alongside Hernandez at Valencia – doubtlessly capable of develop into the hidden gem for Marsch that his fellow Spaniard was beneath Bielsa at Leeds.

AND in different information: Victor Orta plotting Leeds bid for “formidable” £19m sensation, he’s “among the best”