Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Nani, Filip Djuricic has emerged as Newcastle's main target, and Man United have 'cash to burn'.
Manchester United are plotting a late move for Andros Townsend, Chelsea are set to sign Mario Pasalic and Joleon Lescott will stay at Man City.
Bayern Munich's Toni Kroos has again been linked with Man United, Chelsea are closing on Kurt Zouma, and Arsenal could move for Mirko Vucinic.
Juan Mata's assist record, Steven Gerrard's derby joy and a Sergio Aguero milestone feature in our review of the midweek Premier League stats.
TEAMtalk takes a look at the key Opta statistics following the midweek Premier League action which saw Manchester City take over at the top following a 5-1 win at Tottenham, Juan Mata get off to a winning start with Manchester United and Liverpool destroying Everton 4-0 in the Merseyside derby.
Manchester United 2 Cardiff City 0
Robin van Persie has scored five times in his last six Premier League games.
In his last 10 league starts at Old Trafford, Van Persie has bagged eight goals.
Since August 2011, only David Silva (29) has more assists in the Premier League than Juan Mata (28).
Cardiff have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven Premier League games.
Manchester United have won three and lost three of their last six home league games.
Manchester United have earned 1,001 points at Old Trafford in Premier League history, more than any other team has managed on home soil.
Cardiff City have won none and lost seven of their last nine Premier League away games (W0 D2 L7).
Norwich City 0 Newcastle United 0
Norwich have won three and lost none of the last five Premier League home matches against Newcastle (W3 D2).
Newcastle United ended a run of 12 Premier League away games this season without a draw (W7 L5).
There have been just five goals scored in the last five Premier League meetings between the Canaries and the Magpies.
Newcastle United have failed to score in four of their last five Premier League games.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel is now without a goal in 15 games (all competitions).
Loic Remy has mustered just one goal in his last six appearances in all competitions.
Loic Remy was awarded a red card for the first time in league competition since April 17th 2011 (for Marseille v Montpellier).
Bradley Johnson recorded his first red card in a Norwich City shirt.
Loic Remy attempted eight shots (including blocked) against Norwich City.
Southampton 2 Arsenal 2
All four of Jose Fonte's Premier League goals have come at St Mary's.
Southampton have now drawn level with Arsenal for netting the most headed goals this season (9; also Liverpool).
Fonte's goals was the first first-half goal the Gunners have shipped in the Premier League in seven games, since going 2-1 down at Manchester City on December 14.
Fonte's goal was also the second earliest Arsenal have shipped in the PL this season (21 mins), although even after that strike, the Gunners have still conceded fewer first-half goals than any other side (7).
This is the first time Santi Cazorla has scored in consecutive league games since January 2013.
This is only the second time Arsenal have shipped more than one goal in a game in their last 22 Premier League fixtures.
Arsenal have now collected 74 red cards in the Premier League; only Everton (77) and Blackburn (76) have more.
The Gunners have won just once on their last five trips to St. Mary's, drawing three and losing one.
Swansea City 2 Fulham 0
Jonjo Shelvey has netted in both of Swansea's Premier League clashes with Fulham this season.
Fulham have shipped 14 goals from long range this season in the Premier League, more than any other side.
The Whites have now gone eight league games without keeping a clean sheet, the longest run without a shut-out in the top division.
In netting against Fulham and bringing his season tally to two for the Swansea, Spanish defender Chico has doubled last season's haul of just one goal (in all comps).
Under Rene Meulensteen, Fulham have shipped 26 goals in 10 games, more than they conceded under Martin Jol this season in 13 games (24).
Fulham have failed to score in their last two games and in three of their last five league fixtures.
There have been six Premier League meetings between Fulham and Swansea and the Welsh side have won five and lost just one.
The Swans' victory came after a run of eight games without a win, their worst-ever run in the Premier League without tasting victory.
Crystal Palace 1 Hull City 0
Hull have won only six of their previous 50 Premier League away games (D14 L30).
Jason Puncheon has scored in his last three successive home games in the Barclays Premier League.
Crystal Palace have scored at least once in five of their last six home games in the Premier League.
Since putting six past Fulham; Hull City have gone four league games without a goal.
Nikica Jelavic has failed to score in any of his 11 Premier League appearances this term.
Other than Hull, only one other team (Aston Villa) has failed to score in four successive Premier League games this season.
Palace have lost just one of their last seven home league games (W4 D2).
Hull City have managed just two wins in their last 12 away games, in all competitions.
Liverpool 4 Everton 0
Steven Gerrard scored only his seventh headed goal in the Premier League (from 104 overall).
Only versus Aston Villa (12) has Steven Gerrard scored more Premier League goals than against Everton (now 8).
The Liverpool captain is the top appearance maker (28) and top scorer (8) in Premier League Merseyside derbies.
In all competitions, Gerrard has now scored nine times against Everton (eight in the league and one in the FA Cup).
Gerrard has scored in three consecutive appearances in the Premier League. He last managed goals in four consecutive games back in December 2007.
Daniel Sturridge has scored in 12 of his 15 Premier League appearances this season (13 goals in total).
Sturridge has scored more than once in a Premier League game for the first time this season. His last league brace came against Newcastle in April.
Liverpool scored four goals in a game against Everton for the first time since the FA Cup in February 1991 (4-4).
This was the biggest victory in a Merseyside derby since November 1982 when Liverpool won 5-0.
Luis Suarez has matched his league goal total from last season in just 18 appearances (compared to 33 in 2012/13).
Suarez has scored in four of his five Premier League Merseyside derby appearances.
Liverpool have won eight and lost just one of their last 15 Premier League Merseyside derbies.
Everton have won none of the last 14 Premier League visits to Anfield, drawing seven and losing seven in that run.
Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion
Christian Benteke has scored in three consecutive Premier League appearances after going 11 Premier League games without one.
One third of Aston Villa's 12 home goals this season came in this game (4).
This was only the sixth game in Premier League history to see both teams score three or more goals before half-time.
This was the first time Villa have come from two goals behind to win a Premier League game since April 2005 (vs Southampton).
It was the first time Villa had scored three goals before half-time since April 2008 vs Derby.
Villa have come from 2-0 down in both of their games against West Brom this season.
WBA had five shots in the first half and scored three times, but had seven after the break and failed to register a goal.
Fabian Delph became the fourth Premier League player this season to score a goal and an own goal in the same game (after Bardsley, Kompany and Chester).
West Brom have now gone eight Premier League away games without a clean sheet.
Sunderland v Stoke City
Adam Johnson has scored or assisted each of Sunderland's last seven Premier League goals.
Indeed, Johnson has scored five goals in his last three Premier League appearances.
Adam Johnson has equalled his highest ever goal tally for a single Premier League season (6).
Stoke have now gone seven Premier League games without keeping a clean sheet; currently, only Fulham (8) have conceded in more consecutive matches.
Stoke have failed to score a first half Premier League goal in four of their last five games.
There have been red cards in four of the last five Barclays Premier League meetings between Sunderland and Stoke.
Stoke have failed to score in five of their six previous Premier League visits to Sunderland.
Stoke are yet to win a Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, losing four (D2).
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City
Sergio Aguero scored his 50th Premier League goal in this match - in what was his 81st PL appearance.
Aguero became the fifth quickest player to reach the 50-goal landmark in the Premier League - only Andy Cole (65 games), Alan Shearer (66), Ruud van Nistelrooy (68) and Fernando Torres (72) managed to do it quicker.
Aguero has scored five goals in five Premier League appearances against Spurs.
Since he joined Manchester City on the eve of the 2010-11 season, David Silva has more assists than any other player (37) in the competition.
Manchester City have scored the first goal in 18 Premier League games this season - more often than any other side.
Yaya Toure has scored seven goals in his last nine Premier League appearances.
Edin Dzeko has now scored six goals in six appearances against Tottenham in the Premier League; more than against any other side.
The last team to score 11 goals in the same league season against Spurs was Arsenal in 1934-35. No side has ever scored more in a league season versus Spurs than City this term (11).
Man City (68) have bettered their goal tally from the whole of the 2012-13 Premier League season (66), with 15 games remaining in 2013-14.
Manchester City attempted 21 shots at goal in this match, equalling the most by an away side in a Premier League fixture this season.
Chelsea v West Ham United
West Ham have now kept 10 clean sheets this season; a joint-high with Arsenal.
Chelsea had 39 shots tonight (incl. blocked shots); the most by any team who failed to score in the PL since 2003/04.
The last team to have more than 39 shots in a single game was Manchester City, when they sealed the title in May 2012 with a dramatic victory over Queens Park Rangers (44).
West Ham made 13 blocks tonight, equalling the record for the season which they already held (also 13 against Liverpool).
West Ham only had one shot today; a joint-low by a single team in the Premier League this season (with Fulham against Sunderland on 26th October).
Chelsea have only lost one of their last 16 meetings with West Ham in the Premier League (W12 D3).
The Hammers have won none of their last eight Premier League trips to Stamford Bridge (D2 L6).
Man City are chasing Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando from Porto, while Liverpool are closing in on a deal for Ukraine winger Yevhen Konoplyanka.
Arsenal have made a 'take it or leave it' bid of £24.7million for Schalke's Julian Draxler, while Lyon's Clement Grenier is a Newcastle target.
Tuesday 28th January 2014 22:43
Print Article 
Email Article David Moyes believes Manchester United will continue to improve as Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie rebuild their fitness.
The Red Devils boss has been shorn of the services of key men for long periods this season, and has seen performances suffer as a result.
United were, however, able to hand a debut to record signing Mata against Cardiff City on Tuesday and welcome strike duo Van Persie and Rooney back from injury.
Van Persie opened the scoring against the Bluebirds, at the end of a move started by Mata, and Rooney entered the fray as a second half substitute.
Moyes is confident that all three have more to offer and is looking forward to the day when he can unleash an exciting trio of attacking talent on Premier League opponents.
He told Sky Sports: "It's massive to get them back, it's so important to us.
"They are still missing a bit of match practice, but we'll keep building them up - Robin and Wayne, and Juan as well. I'm looking forward to getting them all on the pitch together."
On £37million man Mata, Moyes added: "I thought he did very well. He helped make the goal, he did some really good moments for us and I think he should be pleased tonight how he played, we were.
"He looked as though he wasn't too far away. He still needs some match practice, he's not played as much as he might have liked recently. We tried to keep him on as long as we could, hopefully that will benefit him."
Moyes was delighted to see his big guns help to down dogged Cardiff, with United showing that they can grind out results when required.
He added: "We had to get three points and we did it. We scored two, could have scored more. We didn't really have a great deal to defend against, so overall I was pleased with the performance.
"It was tense. We had other opportunities which we didn't really take. While it is only 1-0 there is always a threat that they can maybe get a goal. But we deserved our victory tonight."
Tuesday 28th January 2014 23:04
Print Article Email Article Juan Mata was delighted to start his Manchester United career with a midweek victory over Cardiff City.
Having seen a £37million transfer from Chelsea see him become United's record signing, big things are expected of the Spaniard at Old Trafford.
He started to offer a return on that considerable outlay on Tuesday as he helped David Moyes' men condemn rock-bottom Cardiff to a 2-0 defeat.
Mata played a part in the opening goal of the contest and admits he thoroughly enjoyed his first outing as a Red Devil.
He told Sky Sports: "It was amazing, the atmosphere. The most important thing is that we won, we got the three points. This is hopefully the beginning of a good run of results.
"It's been an amazing game for me - I tried my best, my team-mates are very good and the atmosphere has been incredible.
"It's been a while since the last game I played, it was 1st January. Last week I didn't train very much because I was waiting. I am very happy to have played in the line-up and I'm looking forward to playing more.
"When you play alongside players like Robin (van Persie), Chicharito (Javier Hernandez), (Wayne) Rooney, Adnan (Januzaj), they are all very good.
"It's special for me, three points, victory and I'm looking forward to playing at the weekend."
Asked for the standout moment in his 85-minute bow, Mata said: "When I went off all of the stands were cheering me and it is something that I will never forget."
Tuesday 28th January 2014 19:28
Print Article Email Article Winger Ashley Young insists Manchester United are looking up the Premier League table following the addition of Juan Mata.
The former Chelsea playmaker completed his move to Old Trafford on Saturday and was handed his debut on Tuesday evening as United hosted Cardiff City.
David Moyes also has Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in his matchday squad, with the duo set to make their return from injury.
Defending Premier League champions United are currently languishing in seventh, but Young believes his side are ready to do their talking on the pitch.
"We want to get ourselves back to winning ways, we want to start looking up the league," he told Sky Sports News ahead of the visit of Cardiff.
"We have to do that on the pitch, we have to produce a performance and we know that's not going to be easy.
"I'm sure if we go out there and produce the positives out of the games we've had throughout the season, I'm sure we'll get three points."
Mata's arrival, twinned with the return of Rooney and Van Persie, has brought an added air of optimism to Old Trafford and Young is delighted to welcome the international trio into the dressing room.
"Of course you want players back in the squad and to have [Rooney and Van Persie] then adding one to that, it's fantastic for everyone," he added.
"To get players back from injury is fantastic, we've got them back in the squad and everyone is looking forward to tonight."
Tuesday 28th January 2014 22:43
Print Article Email Article David Moyes believes Manchester United will continue to improve as Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie rebuild their fitness.
The Red Devils boss has been shorn of the services of key men for long periods this season, and has seen performances suffer as a result.
United were, however, able to hand a debut to record signing Mata against Cardiff City on Tuesday and welcome strike duo Van Persie and Rooney back from injury.
Van Persie opened the scoring against the Bluebirds, at the end of a move started by Mata, and Rooney entered the fray as a second half substitute.
Moyes is confident that all three have more to offer and is looking forward to the day when he can unleash an exciting trio of attacking talent on Premier League opponents.
He told Sky Sports: "It's massive to get them back, it's so important to us.
"They are still missing a bit of match practice, but we'll keep building them up - Robin and Wayne, and Juan as well. I'm looking forward to getting them all on the pitch together."
On £37million man Mata, Moyes added: "I thought he did very well. He helped make the goal, he did some really good moments for us and I think he should be pleased tonight how he played, we were.
"He looked as though he wasn't too far away. He still needs some match practice, he's not played as much as he might have liked recently. We tried to keep him on as long as we could, hopefully that will benefit him."
Moyes was delighted to see his big guns help to down dogged Cardiff, with United showing that they can grind out results when required.
He added: "We had to get three points and we did it. We scored two, could have scored more. We didn't really have a great deal to defend against, so overall I was pleased with the performance.
"It was tense. We had other opportunities which we didn't really take. While it is only 1-0 there is always a threat that they can maybe get a goal. But we deserved our victory tonight."
Tuesday 28th January 2014 23:04
Print Article Email Article Juan Mata was delighted to start his Manchester United career with a midweek victory over Cardiff City.
Having seen a £37million transfer from Chelsea see him become United's record signing, big things are expected of the Spaniard at Old Trafford.
He started to offer a return on that considerable outlay on Tuesday as he helped David Moyes' men condemn rock-bottom Cardiff to a 2-0 defeat.
Mata played a part in the opening goal of the contest and admits he thoroughly enjoyed his first outing as a Red Devil.
He told Sky Sports: "It was amazing, the atmosphere. The most important thing is that we won, we got the three points. This is hopefully the beginning of a good run of results.
"It's been an amazing game for me - I tried my best, my team-mates are very good and the atmosphere has been incredible.
"It's been a while since the last game I played, it was 1st January. Last week I didn't train very much because I was waiting. I am very happy to have played in the line-up and I'm looking forward to playing more.
"When you play alongside players like Robin (van Persie), Chicharito (Javier Hernandez), (Wayne) Rooney, Adnan (Januzaj), they are all very good.
"It's special for me, three points, victory and I'm looking forward to playing at the weekend."
Asked for the standout moment in his 85-minute bow, Mata said: "When I went off all of the stands were cheering me and it is something that I will never forget."
Tuesday 28th January 2014 19:28
Print Article Email Article Winger Ashley Young insists Manchester United are looking up the Premier League table following the addition of Juan Mata.
The former Chelsea playmaker completed his move to Old Trafford on Saturday and was handed his debut on Tuesday evening as United hosted Cardiff City.
David Moyes also has Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie in his matchday squad, with the duo set to make their return from injury.
Defending Premier League champions United are currently languishing in seventh, but Young believes his side are ready to do their talking on the pitch.
"We want to get ourselves back to winning ways, we want to start looking up the league," he told Sky Sports News ahead of the visit of Cardiff.
"We have to do that on the pitch, we have to produce a performance and we know that's not going to be easy.
"I'm sure if we go out there and produce the positives out of the games we've had throughout the season, I'm sure we'll get three points."
Mata's arrival, twinned with the return of Rooney and Van Persie, has brought an added air of optimism to Old Trafford and Young is delighted to welcome the international trio into the dressing room.
"Of course you want players back in the squad and to have [Rooney and Van Persie] then adding one to that, it's fantastic for everyone," he added.
"To get players back from injury is fantastic, we've got them back in the squad and everyone is looking forward to tonight."
Tuesday 28th January 2014 18:39
Print Article Email Article 
Follow Tuesday's football via TEAMtalk's Live Centre, with matches in the Premier League, Championship, League 1 and League 2.
Before the games
Check out Paul Merson's predictions and have a gander at all the key Premier League Opta Stats.
During the games
Follow the minute-by-minute updates from around the grounds on our Live Centre.
After the games
Have Your Say on all the major talking points and check out our Premier League gallery.
Monday 27th January 2014 10:31
Print Article Email Article New signing Juan Mata could lift the confidence of everybody at Manchester United and add the creativity they are lacking, says Gary Neville.
The reigning Premier League champions secured the Spain international's signature on Saturday in a deal worth £37.1million from Chelsea, after the Blues' two-time player of the season failed to secure a regular place in the team under Jose Mourinho.
Sky Sports expert and former United captain Neville told Sky Sports News that Mata's arrival at Old Trafford could offer the lift that David Moyes and his side are desperate for after two cup exits and disappointing league form.
Neville said: "Hopefully Mata will have a big impact on the rest of the players because they seem flat, they've lost their confidence at times; creativity in the final third has been a problem.
"They just need to do more; they are not achieving what they are capable of. They are fantastic players who were champions six months ago, so it doesn't just go overnight but the confidence has dipped and this could be the moment where it lifts everybody at the club.
"I don't think any of the newspapers - whilst they've obviously had a lot of attention on the manager and the club over the last few weeks - none of them are saying that David Moyes' tenure is under threat because they know the football club.
"Football has gone mad with managers in the last couple of years but David Moyes will get a good few years to be able to perform here and do his work and rightly so because it's a tough job.
"I don't think the team has done itself justice at the moment - there is a good group of players here who are capable of a lot more than they are achieving at this moment in time.
"But what Mata will do is provide a great element of creativity and they need that because at the moment they are not creating anywhere near enough in the final third."
Ahead of Brazil 2014, Mata will be looking to get regular first team football under his belt to secure his place in the reigning World Cup holders' squad after only playing 90 minutes in two Premier League games this season.
Where the 25-year-old fits in at United is something Neville finds interesting because he doesn't seem him as a typical United wide player.
He said: "It will be intriguing to see where he fits in. You'd think that Rooney and Van Persie are number one and number two up front so I'd think he's going to play off the side, to the right or left.
"Obviously, Januzaj has been playing right or left in the first parts of the season so I'd imagine that between them Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia and Shinji Kagawa it will be intriguing to see how he fits in but one thing is for certain - he will be in because he's a quality player.
"He's a fantastic player; he's technically excellent, creates goals, scores goals. My comments last week around it were the fact that he's not a typical Manchester United player in as much as Manchester United typically in wide areas have played with wingers.
"Mata is a different type of player who isn't going to be out wide and beating men and putting crosses in. But maybe a bit of change is good."
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has been in talks with the club over a new contract which could see him made captain in a bid to prevent the England star from pushing for a move away.
Neville believes the club will be showing their true intent to be the best if Rooney pens a long-term contract after the signing of Mata.
"I don't know about [being captain] but I imagine that if he were to sign a new deal it will be a huge boost," added Neville.
"Everybody over the last few weeks has been drawing attention to the fact that Manchester United are on the decline.
"They've signed Mata, if they can pull Rooney in for the long term I think it would send the right messages out there that this club isn't going to go away, which it obviously isn't."
Chelsea have reached a "verbal agreement" over the purchase of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa and PSG have bid for starlet Adnan Januzaj.
Monday 27th January 2014 7:32
Print Article Email Article Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he regrets not being able to make Juan Mata a better player on his return to Stamford Bridge.
The Spain international completed a £37.1m move to Manchester United on Saturday after failing to secure a regular place in the Chelsea side under Mourinho, despite being named the club's player of the season for the last two years.
Mourinho has preferred Oscar to Mata and he admitted he had no choice but to sell Mata after forcing him to play out of position.
"I am sorry that I didn't make him a stronger player. Maybe it was something new for him, not to be a first choice (player) in a difficult moment," said Mourinho.
"Maybe that made him, as a man, as a player, stronger but I gave him nothing to be honest and I feel sorry with that.
"I tried to make him play in a position where he was not comfortable. He gave everything and played some good matches in that position.
"We are speaking about a world champion, a European champion. It is difficult for him.
"I feel sorry for that and because of that I feel we couldn't stop him going to Manchester United, despite being Manchester United's direct rival."
United boss David Moyes expects the Spanish playmaker to give his side a huge lift in their bid to finish in the top four.
"This is the first, and there will be many more to come in time. I want the quality of Juan to be the start of it," Moyes told MUTV.
"I don't think we will have any more (new signings) in January - I'm still working on it and looking to do so. But hopefully it will be the first of some new signings, some new players who will arrive, more likely in the summertime.
"Undoubtedly we could all do with a bit of a lift. We have not done as well as we would have liked to do. We see this as the start, we have to look to improve and I'm going to try to bring in some new players to make that happen.
"I want to build an exciting team, I want to win and I want to give the supporters something to shout about - I've not done that often enough."
Moyes, who is likely to give Mata his debut at home to Cardiff on Tuesday, admitted he was surprised to be able to get the player in mid-season.
"I never felt that we would get that opportunity," added the Scot. "I wasn't sure that Chelsea would ever sell him to us. Thankfully we got there and I am delighted he is here.
"I'm a bit surprised because it's not something that tends to happen especially between Premier League teams. I was surprised when it happened but we have got a really exciting player, a player I'm looking forward to working with, a player I think everybody in football looked at and says he did a great job for Chelsea.
"I'm looking forward to seeing him in a red jersey and doing it for us."
Juan Mata will be presented as Manchester United's record signing in a news conference on Sky Sports News from 1:30pm. You can also follow coverage in our Sky Sports Today live blog
Man Utd will follow up the deal for Juan Mata with Bayern Munich ace Mario Mandzukic and Michael Laudrup is heading out of the door at Swansea.
Friday 24th January 2014 21:15
Print Article Email Article Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata is to have a medical at Manchester United today ahead of his proposed transfer, according to Sky sources.
United and Chelsea have already reached agreement over the transfer but the Spain star still has to agree personal terms and pass his medical.
United confirmed on their Twitter feed: "MUFC has reached agreement with Chelsea for the transfer of Juan Mata for a club record fee.
"The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course."
And Chelsea confirmed: "Chelsea Football Club has reached an agreement with Manchester United for the transfer of Juan Mata. The move is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms."
United will reportedly hand over £37m for Mata, far exceeding their previous club record of £30.75m they spent on Dimitar Berbatov in 2008.
The fee also represents a hefty profit for Chelsea on a player they signed for £23.5m from Valencia in 2011.
Speaking at his Friday afternoon press conference, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho wished Mata well.
He said: "He's a fantastic player and despite not playing a lot for us in the last period could be a very important player for us. But Juan had this fantastic opportunity for him.
"It's what he wants. It's what he asked us to accept. Chelsea Football Club is proud to act this way, in an open way, in a human way."
Mata was named Chelsea's player of the year in each of the past two seasons but has been reduced to a bit-part role since Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge.
"The offer we've received we feel is the right offer for the quality of the player," Mourinho said. "It's a good move for Juan, it's a good move for the Premier League and the offer is the right offer. He was fantastic for Chelsea, and Chelsea were fantastic for him."
Responding to criticism of the sale from some supporters, he said: "If the fans are sad that Juan is leaving, I will say that we are also sad. No one is jumping around the place."
Mata's replacement in the Chelsea squad will be Mohamed Salah, subject to a successful medical.
Salah has agreed personal terms, but Mourinho explained that he will have to have his medical - the last step in the deal to sign him from Basel - in Switzerland.
"He's a non-EC player. He cannot come to England for his medical, so we have to travel to meet him and to have the medical, probably in Switzerland. Only after that can we do the paperwork to bring him to the country," said Mourinho, who is excited by the signing.
"I like the fact that he can play the same way our attacking players do, which is players with adaptability, to play right, left, or behind the striker.
"He's young, he's fast, he's creative, he's enthusiastic. When we analysed him he looks the kind of humble personality on the pitch, ready to work for the team and to work and to adapt himself to a new life.
"We believe if he comes that he will have a similar process to the Willian one. Willian needed two or three months to grow up and to feel comfortable playing for us (following his August signing from Anzhi Makhachkala).
"We think with him and (Andre) Schurrle, (Eden) Hazard, Oscar and Willian we will be fine.
"We lose an experienced top player like Juan, but we bring in a young player with great potential.
"Willian did that transition from his previous world to the top world of football. Hopefully, if Salah comes, he can do the same. We are ready to help, we are ready to support.
"He has some experience in Europe, the Europa League, Champions League, so he's not a naive boy arriving in the jungle.
"Hopefully he comes and hopefully with the talented players we have around in the same positions we all can develop together."
Man Utd have bid £22.5m for Luke Shaw and are set to agree a new £300,000-a-week deal with Wayne Rooney, but Rio Ferdinand is heading for MLS.
Friday 24th January 2014 16:07
Print Article Email Article Experienced scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen gives his verdict on Juan Mata, Julian Draxler, Mohamed Salah, Remy Cabella and Luuk De Jong.
Tor-Kristian Karlsen has worked in the football industry since 1996 in various roles, including chief scout, sporting director and most recently as CEO of AS Monaco.
He dropped into the Sky Sports News studios this week to provide his expert view on some of the biggest names catching the eye of the Premier League's heavyweights during the January transfer window.
Age: 25
Nationality: Spain
Club: Chelsea
Position: Attacking midfielder
Wanted by: Manchester United
Manchester United are close to sealing a deal in the region of £40m for Chelsea's Juan Mata, and despite quibbles over the playmaker's place in a side that has traditionally played with wingers, Karlsen believes the move would galvanise the beleaguered champions.
"I think the Mata signing is a great move for them. I hear people discussing where he might fit in and questioning whether he's a David Moyes type of player but I think David Moyes is well aware of his qualities and how to get the best out of him.
"For me, it's a great statement of intent. The squad, as everyone knows, is short in certain departments. I think they need some work in defence and midfield but it's difficult in January because the teams that Manchester United are likely to buy off are teams that are themselves chasing titles and trophies and Champions League qualification."
Age: 20
Nationality: Germany
Club: Schalke
Position: Attacking midfielder
Wanted by: Arsenal
Arsenal, meanwhile, have been linked with Schalke's Julian Draxler but Arsene Wenger had played down talk of any big-name arrivals and Karlsen fears the Gunners boss is calling no-one's bluff.
"I'm not sure anything is happening at all to be honest. It would surprise me if Schalke were to sell a player like him in the January transfer window; the Germans are always reluctant to do January business.
"Schalke have got a Champions League knockout game against Real Madrid coming up and if Draxler plays a blinder there his market value will probably increase even further.
"He's a wonderful player, I like him very much. Despite his size, he's powerful, yet he can still dribble, he's very technical, he has a great stride and is very hard to stop when he has space in front of him.
"If Arsenal end up champions, or second, or even third, I think it's a very exciting proposition for him, but I really can't see this happening in January."
Age: 21
Nationality: Egypt
Club: Basel
Position: Winger
Wanted by: Chelsea; Liverpool
Basel's Mohamed Salah looks set to join Chelsea over Liverpool but Karlsen has warned he still has some growing up to do.
"It won't necessarily be a case of the highest bid; the player's wishes are very important. With all due respect to Liverpool, if Chelsea come knocking, they will normally choose London.
"He's a little bit immature still, maybe, and could do with another few months, half a year in Basel, but he's very fast, likes to take people on and can play across the front so he looks like a decent addition."
Age: 23
Nationality: France
Club: Montpellier
Position: Midfielder
Wanted by: Newcastle
Over on Tyneside, Montpellier's Remy Cabella and Borussia Monchengladbach's Luuk de Jong are two players understood to be on Newcastle's radar but Karlsen reckons a move for the former would be the smarter - and says he can complement, not replace, Yohan Cabaye.
"I don't see Cabella as a direct replacement to Cabaye. Cabella is is a bit more attacking-minded; he plays in bursts, he receives the ball higher up the pitch than Cabaye does. He's a wonderful player and I think if he does go to Newcastle, the fans will love this guy.
"Luuk de Jong is a strange one. Monchengladbach paid quite a lot of money for him - around £10million - and he has been a bit of a flop there; he's hardly played this season.
"He's a very hard-working centre-forward; he runs and runs, he's good at receiving the ball and making himself available but he maybe lacks that goalscoring instinct."
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