---
title: "Leeds: Spanish outlet shares surprise Juan Mata talks"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-juan-mata-talks-transfer-gossip/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-07-14T06:17:04Z"
modified: "2022-07-14T06:17:04Z"
---

# Leeds: Spanish outlet shares surprise Juan Mata talks

**[Leeds United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/) are reportedly in talks to sign former Manchester United attacking midfielder Juan Mata.**

### The Lowdown: Busy summer

The Whites have been extremely proactive in the transfer market, with Andrea Radrizzani fulfilling his [promise](https://theathletic.com/news/leeds-radrizzani-marsch-transfers/O6y0KuqwYl8A/) when it comes to improving the playing squad.

The club have lost [Kalvin Phillips](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/kalvin-phillips-signs-63792517) to Manchester City and it looks as if [Raphinha](https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona/status/1547174615641907200) will join Barcelona, but Leeds have spent [£95m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399) on six new players.

A [new forward](https://mobile.twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1545145078271942657) is wanted ahead of the new season, but it looks as if Mata could also be making the move to Yorkshire after he left rivals [Manchester United](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/juan-mata-to-leave-man-utd-in-june-2022) at the end of June.

### The Latest: Mata talks?

[Sports Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/leeds-united-director-victor-orta-contacted-agent-free-signing-parties-want-close-transfer/) relayed an update from Spanish outlet [AS](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/juan-mata-interesa-al-leeds-n/) regarding Mata’s next move on Wednesday.

They claim that Victor Orta has contacted Mata’s father over a possible Elland Road deal, with negotiations slow but progressing ‘on track’.

[![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: Shock

Leeds appear to be building for the future with their oldest signing of the summer being [Marc Roca](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/transfers/verein/399) at 25. Therefore, the rumours regarding Mata, who turned 34 in April, are a surprise.

\[freshpress-poll id=”402884″\]

He would bring plenty of Premier League experience to Elland Road and has scored [137](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/juan-mata/leistungsdaten/spieler/44068) goals and provided [157](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/juan-mata/leistungsdaten/spieler/44068) assists during his club career, so there’s no doubting his quality, but the Spaniard has made just [16](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/juan-mata/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/44068) Premier League appearances across the last two seasons.

Mata can play on the [wing or in behind the striker](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/juan-mata/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/44068), and with no fee to pay, Orta may well be willing to bolster Jesse Marsch’s attacking ranks with a cut-price swoop, but it certainly looks like a risky one.