---
title: "Leeds: Juan Mata willing to take pay cut to move to Elland Road"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-juan-mata-pay-cut-transfer-gossip-elland-road/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-07-15T08:19:07Z"
modified: "2022-07-15T08:19:07Z"
---

# Leeds: Juan Mata willing to take pay cut to move to Elland Road

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) target Juan Mata is willing to lower his previous Manchester United wage in order to move to Yorkshire.**

### The Lowdown: Mata talks with Leeds

The Whites have been linked with a move for the 34-year-old in recent days, with the attacking midfielder now a [free agent](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61761358).

[Reports](https://sportwitness.co.uk/leeds-united-director-victor-orta-contacted-agent-free-signing-parties-want-close-transfer/) have claimed that Victor Orta has contacted Mata’s father over a possible Elland Road deal, with negotiations slow but progressing ‘on track’.

Mata, who was described as a player with [‘class’](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/david-de-gea-and-scott-mctominay-praise-player-of-the-month-juan-mata) dress sense by former Old Trafford team-mate Scott McTominay, is also [wanted](https://twitter.com/CJSmith91/status/1547190826660511746) by Real Betis, Marseille and an Italian club.

### The Latest: Mata transfer update

[Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-willing-reduce-wages-join-leeds-currently-studying-elland-road-offer/) relayed an update from Spanish outlet [Marca](https://www.marca.com/futbol/premier-league/2022/07/13/62ceb4ad46163fccb68b4580.html) regarding Mata.

They claimed that he is ‘studying’ the offers from both Leeds and Betis and ‘has made it clear to the clubs that have contacted him that he is willing to lower the amount he earned at Manchester United’ ahead of his next move.

[![Latest Leeds United updates!](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-6/)

### The Verdict: Experienced option

Leeds’ oldest signing this summer has been [25-year-old Marc Roca](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399), so a swoop for 34-year-old Mata would be a bit of a surprise.

However, the Whites have [limited](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/kader/verein/399) options in behind the striker at this moment in time, so the latter could be a useful signing and a Pablo Hernandez-like mentor, especially with teams able to make [five substitutions per game](https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4684734/why-premier-leagues-shift-to-five-subs-per-gamelike-other-major-leaguesis-a-bad-idea#:~:text=Initially%20recommended%20by%20FIFA%20and,stood%20apart%2C%20voting%20against%20the) in the Premier League from next season.

\[freshpress-poll id=”402884″\]

Mata has plenty of [experience](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/juan-mata/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/44068) at the top level so he would be able to help a number of young attackers, and with the player willing to lower his previous [£160,000-a-week](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/manchester-united-fc/juan-mata-22905) salary, a one- or two-year deal could be a smart move from Leeds.