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United make Mata move as Chelsea prepare to hijack Tottenham's bid for Willian
CHELSEA'S last-ditch bid to sign Brazil winger Willian may leave Juan Mata surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge this season - which could pave the way for a departure to Manchester United.
Spurs' £30million move for Anzhi Makhachkala star Willian appears in doubt after Chelsea joined the race for his signature late last night.
Willian has passed a medical at Spurs, but no deal has been signed and Chelsea are able to offer the 25-year-old Champions League football this season were he to snub Andre Villas-Boas' side.
Tottenham thought they had landed the former Liverpool target after days of negotiation, however Chelsea may be set to hijack their move after Blues owner Roman Abramovich phoned fellow Russian oligarch Suleyman Kerimov - the Anzhi owner - to offer him an improved £32m figure for Willian.
While Willian could be set to hold talks with the West-London outfit now instead of Spurs, his signing could mean the end of Mata's career at Chelsea.
Should Chelsea secure Willian, it would almost certainly mean Mata would be surplus to requirements in Jose Mourinho's squad, such is the congestion in his midfield ranks.
Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Ramires and Marco van Ginkel are central options, while Oscar, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Victor Moses and Andre Schurrle will fight for the wide berths.
United could make a move for Mata given David Moyes' search for a creative midfielder remains ongoing this summer, while the Spaniard was initially linked with a swap deal involving Wayne Rooney earlier in the window.
Moyes may be willing to part with Rooney if he can secure Mata at Old Trafford, a move which would appease the fans and solve a troublesome hole in his squad.
ESPN claim sources from both clubs have indicated that United have made a formal inquiry to Chelsea about the availability of Mata.
And with Rooney Mourinho's top target a compromise package could be reached between the title rivals before the transfer market slams shut on September 2.