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Man Utd agrees record Mata fee
1/25/2014 5:39:13 PM
- Manchester United confirm signing of Juan Mata for "a club-record fee"
- Spanish international hoping to revitalize career after falling out of favor at Mourinho's Chelsea
- Moyes' foray into January market at odds with philosophy of predecessor Alex Ferguson
- "Buying in January has seldom been a route we have taken," Ferguson said in 2011
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(CNN) -- Desperate times call for desperate measures.
After a humbling League Cup defeat at the hands of lowly Sunderland, and with the reigning English champions a distant seventh in the Premier League table, Manchester United have broken the bank to bring in Juan Mata from Chelsea.
In a statement released Friday, the club said: "Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Chelsea Football Club for the transfer of Juan Mata for a club-record fee."
The deal, which is widely reported to be in the region of £37 million ($61 million), is subject to the Spanish international passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.
Mata's signing provides a much-needed fillip for beleaguered United manager David Moyes, who is enduring a nightmare start to his Old Trafford tenure.
Read more: How not to appoint a football manager
Moyes was the man chosen by the United hierarchy to replace Alex Ferguson, the legendary Scottish manager who retired in May after 26 years trophy-laden years at the helm having ensconced the club firmly at the pinnacle of domestic and European football.
But elimination from both domestic cup competitions and a disastrous defence of the club's league title -- United sits 14 points behind leaders Arsenal -- have exposed the weaknesses in United's squad and led to suggestions former Everton manager Moyes can't cut it at football's top table.
Alex Ferguson
Moyes will be relieved to have finally secured the signature of a high-profile transfer target, following failed pursuits of star names such as Cesc Fabregas and a reported bid for Gareth Bale during the summer window.
United's challenge has not been helped by injuries to key attackers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, with the latter casting a shadow over the early days of Moyes' by allegedly agitating for a move away from the club.
The signing of Mata will bolster United's attack and the Spanish playmaker will be hoping he can propel his new team into the latter stages of the European Champions League and, in the process, secure his place in Spain's squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
United's participation in next season's Champions League is in doubt, with the team six points off fourth place and the final qualification spot for Europe's elite competition.
Moyes' decision to plunge into the January market is at odds with the philosophy of his illustrious predecessor.
"Buying in January has seldom been a route we have taken," Ferguson said in December 2011.
"Unless a player we have always been interested in comes along ... it is not suitable for us."
Chelsea's decision to sell Mata has also been questioned.
Mata, 25, has been voted Chelsea's Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons, but he has found himself an increasingly peripheral figure since Mourinho's second spell as manager of the Stamford Bridge club began in June.
The former Valencia player has started just 11 of Chelsea's 22 league matches, with Mourinho deeming Mata surplus to requirements in his bid to win a third Premier League title with the London club.
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