Leeds United would need to get rid of two players to pay wages of Juan Mata – Sky Sports pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Paul Robinson believes Leeds United would need to clear a chunk of their wage bill to sign Juan Mata this summer if they make the move.
The ex-Whites stopper insisted that two players would need to move on to cover the wages of the Spanish maestro, who has become a free agent after leaving Manchester United.
La Nueva Espana reported that the Whites were set to win the race for Mata, who would need to take a salary reduction from his past £96,000-a-week wage.
“The experience and quality he does have, but I don’t know if he’d be a good fit at Leeds,” he exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“Juan Mata doesn’t strike me as a player who would relish a relegation fight or trying to keep a team in the Premier League. His experience and quality would add a lot to Leeds, but I think the way they play, we’ve seen them with the high press and tempo, he could be a luxury that Leeds cannot afford to have.
“His wages he would have to come in on, you looking at at least two other players that he would take the place on the wage structure of that you could bring in.”
Gamble.
Given that Mata was said to be on just below £100,000 each week at Old Trafford and would need to take a pay cut, that should see him fit into the wage structure at Elland Road.
Robinson is spot on about the Spaniard not exactly fitting into the system of Jesse Marsch, and this doesn’t follow the type of player already targeted and then brought in.
Victor Orta is looking at young players who have played in big leagues and have that international experience, not those coming to the end of their careers.
Mata would not be ready to press high and run non-stop for 90 minutes every single matchday, so this would make little to no sense if it was to come off.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites now want to sign this striker with a rival set to kickstart a major £30million+ transfer battle