Manchester United's dismissal of manager Louis van Gaal and the expected hiring of Jose Mourinho as his replacement could trigger a potential move for Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic, as the future of Juan Mata hangs in the balance.
Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail reported the self-proclaimed Special One is keen to take Matic from Stamford Bridge as he attempts to strengthen United's core. The Blues will want "more than £25 million" for their powerful midfielder, should Mourinho be quickly appointed at Old Trafford and start to splash the cash in the marketplace.
Spain international Mata is reportedly willing to bury the hatchet withMourinho in order to remain at United and wishes to discuss his future with his former Chelsea coach, per Crafton. Mourinho sold the player to United for £37 million in 2014, with sources claiming Mata believes he can work with the Portuguese icon again.
Mata scored as United beat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday, in what turned out to be Van Gaal's last game in charge of the Red Devils.
The crucial goal hauled United back into the game in the final minutes and was shared by the club's official Twitter:
Treble winner and United legend Peter Schmeichel believes the arrival of Mourinho could "save" the club as they push to move forward with a new coach, per BBC Radio 5 Live.
"The club has moved backwards in terms of its philosophy and traditions, "said the former stopper. "I have to praise the owners and the leadership of the club to make this decision."
As Mourinho suffered at Chelsea last term, Matic witnessed a fluctuating season of indifferent and concerning form.
The 27-year-old defensive talent only started 28 times in the Premier League in 2015-16, according to WhoScored.com, as he struggled to recover his best performances.
Before Matic could find his standard, Mourinho was shown the exit door at Stamford Bridge, but the pair could be reunited at the Theatre of Dreams if the coach wants his former player.
After the way Mata departed Chelsea, it is difficult to comprehend thatMourinho would want him at United. The talented attacking midfielder has been hit or miss since joining from the west Londoners and would struggle to start in a team driven by Mourinho's defensive energy.
Crafton also commented on the exit of Van Gaal, as United look toward a brand new era under a manager once despised by their supporters:
The arrival of Mourinho is essential for United; he will attract the necessary talent the team needs and will endeavour to score the goals that the faithful crave.
Mourinho's sides have always defended in numbers, but they have a work ethic that United supporters appreciate.
Red Devils fans have never wanted their side to defend less, but they demand to be entertained in the final third of the pitch, and this is where Van Gaal failed completely.
Mourinho is a winner, and he understands the Premier League better than most. If he does turn up at Carrington in the coming days, the future will look much brighter than it did on the last day of the season for the north-west giants.
