Chelsea braced to lose key creative to La Liga in January window

Juan Mata’s father and agent Juan Mata Snr will be jetting into London this week to hold ‘crisis talks’ with Chelsea over the players future, according to the Daily Mirror.

The 25-year-old is 11/4 to notch at anytime when the west London outfit visit Hull City in their next dose of Premier League action.

Despite being marginalised at Stamford Bridge, the 32-cap, nine-goal Spain international still averages more key passes per game than any of his teammates across Premier League and Champions League action this term.

Yet the former Valencia star has started just 14 of the Blues’ 31 matches so far this season and the Mirror reports him as being angry with his treatment.

Such anger was clearly evident in his body language as he left the field having been substituted against Southampton.

When rumours began to circulate regarding Chelsea’s willingness to listen offers for the Spaniard in the summer it seemed the height of silly season folly.

However, Jose Mourinho’s apathy towards the club’s two-time reigning player of the year has been made crystal clear by Mata’s reduced role in the squad this term.

Atletico have been linked with an interest in the midfielder ever since the summer and they will be further encouraged in their pursuit by Mourinho who said:

“I want to keep him. I don’t want him to go.

“That’s my opinion, my wish. But my door is open and the club’s door is open too. When a player wants to speak with us we are there waiting.”

It’s thought Atletico are keen on a loan switch in January with an option to buy at the end of the campaign.

Playing in Spain would certainly raise Mata’s profile with the World Cup around the corner.

Meanwhile he could reasonably assured of a starting place at Vicente Calderon.

Three quarters of the Los Rojiblancos starting midfield four are fairly nailed down by Tiago, Gabi and Koke, but the Chelsea man would have every hope of usurping Arda Turan on the right side of midfield.