Chelsea set to sign Mata

Valencia have confirmed that midfielder Juan Mata has reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign for the Blues.

The winger has flown to London in order to undergo a medical ahead of a proposed move to Stamford Bridge. Mata himself confirmed via Twitter that he was heading to London on Monday to undergo a medical with the London club.

New Chelsea signing Juan Mata

Mata, 23, had long been linked with a move to Arsenal, but the Blues have captured the Spanish international for a fee believed to be around £25m.

A number of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool  and Arsenal,  have been linked with the highly-rated winger, who was part of Spain’s World Cup winning squad and was their Under-21 captain.

However, the Blues  moved into pole position to sign Mata in recent weeks with manager Andre Villas-Boas open about his interest in the player.

Mata joined Valencia from Real Madrid in 2007 and was a key member of Spain’s Under-21 success at this summer’s European Championship in Denmark. His arrival follows the signings of Romelu Lukaku and the midfielder Oriol Romeu at Stamford Bridge this summer.

Although, Spurs boss Redknapp believes that Chelsea’s signing of Juan Mata will likely kill their prospects of signing Luka Modric as well, it is expected that Chelsea will launch a fresh bid for Luka Modric this week and want the Tottenham playmaker – who will miss tonight’s game at Manchester United – to join Juan Mata at the club.

Modric will not play for Spurs at Old Trafford tonight and is digging his heels in over a move to Chelsea, the Sun reports.

The 25-year-old Croatian will not be available for Spurs’ opening Premier League game against reigning champions Manchester United. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that Modric had a slight groin injury that he could have played through, but he will not play.

Modric has been linked with a £35 million move to Stamford Bridge all summer and has expressed his desire to quit the club, however Chelsea announced on Sunday that they have agreed a deal to sign Spanish international Mata from Valencia for around £25 million.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp admitted on Sunday night that Modric was not mentally ready for the trip to Old Trafford as he continues to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Tags: Andre Villas Boas, Arsenal, Blues, Chelsea, Juan Mata, Luka Modric, Spain, Stamford Bridge, Tottenham Hotspur, Valencia