Juan Mata could be heading back to Spain — with a host of clubs keen to sign the soon to be out of contract play-maker.
A number of La Liga sides are understood to want to offer Mata a return to his homeland, with the 31-year-old so far not committing to a new deal from Manchester United.
Brighton, however, have also emerged with interest after Chris Hughton's side secured their top-flight status this weekend
United have offered the former Chelsea midfielder a one-year deal with option of another season on top but Mata is undecided on whether to stay at Old Trafford and risk less game time in future.
New boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning a summer overhaul of a squad set to miss out on Champions League qualification — they sit sixth going into Sunday's visit to already-relegated Huddersfield with only two games to go — and finish over 20 points off the Premier League title pace.
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Former Real Madrid starlet Mata, signed from Chelsea for £38million in 2014 when David Moyes was manager, has become a popular figure at Old Trafford and scored against his old club Chelsea to earn Solskjaer’s men a 1-1 draw last weekend.
But there’s a belief that United need a younger and more dynamic midfield to get back to competing for the game's biggest trophies — and Mata, who has been in the XI for only eight of Solskjaer's 19 Premier League matches in charge since replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho in early December, will not be a regular starter if he stays.
Valencia are also interested in re-signing old boy Mata eight years after selling him to Chelsea for £23.5m,.
It’s also believed that Brighton boss Chris Hughton is keen to keep the World Cup and Euros winning Spain international in the Premier League now his team have staved off relegation at Cardiff's expense.
