Rumours regarding Manchester United‘s Juan Mata and a potential transfer back to Spain continue to swirl, as The Sun (h/t Metro‘s Simon Osborn) reports Atletico Madrid are willing to offer the Red Devils defender Miranda on top of a significant fee for the midfielder’s services.

The news comes just days after El Mundo Deportivo claimed Barcelona are contemplating a move as soon as their transfer ban ends, via Bleacher Report UK:

As reported by Osborn, the La Liga champions are believed to have turned down a deal involving star midfielder Koke, but they would be willing to part with veteran centre-back Miranda and £22 million in cash:

Atletico Madrid have told Manchester United they will not include midfielder Koke as part of their offer to sign Juan Mata.

It was reported over the weekend that United wanted the attacking midfielder in part-exchange for former the former Chelsea star, but Atletico have ruled out letting the 22-year-old leave for Old Trafford.

However, the Sun are now reporting the Spanish champions have offered £22m plus 30-year-old defender Miranda as an alternative.

Mata has not been a regular starter under Louis van Gaal, not having started a Premier League match since January 17, per WhoScored.com. The 26-year-old doesn’t appear to be a part of Van Gaal‘s long-term plans and could be anxious to explore his options at the end of the campaign.

The Dutch manager told reporters he wants to buy a creative midfielder during a media session on Monday, an odd statement considering he has the Spain international at his disposal. ESPN FC wondered whether that meant his time could officially be up:

A swap deal for Koke would have filled the void Van Gaal emphasised, but Miranda wouldn’t be a bad consolation price. The Brazil international has been a part of Atletico‘s vaunted back four for years now, but the emergence of youngster Jose Maria Gimenez means he could soon be relegated to a bench role.

It’s no secret United have a need in defence—Bleacher Report’s Ryan Bailey labeled the Red Devils as transfer-window losers for failing to address the position with a world-class player:

Miranda isn’t on the level of team-mate Diego Godin, but he’s an experienced veteran who could step in and help out immediately and for the next two or three years. If Mata is indeed free to leave in the summer, it wouldn’t be a bad move to bring in the Brazilian in return.

Inter Milan have reportedly identified Fiorentina‘s Khouma Babacar as a potential replacement for Mauro Icardi, leading to speculation the prolific striker could be on the move at the end of the campaign, per the Daily Express‘ Charles Perrin.

The two sides have been engaged in contract negotiations but have so far come up empty, although manager Roberto Mancini remains confident a deal will be struck, via FOX Soccer:

Icardi is one of Serie A’s best strikers playing for an Inter squad that has underperformed tremendously the past two years, and most of the transfer speculation surrounding his name comes from the idea he might be willing to move to a club with more potential for silverware.

The Nerazzurri won’t be willing to part ways with their star forward easily, however. Per FourFourTwo‘s Adam Digby, the squad simply doesn’t perform at the same level whenever he doesn’t play:

Inter’s squad is young and wildly talented, and with Mancini now at the helm, they’re expected to once again emerge as a force in Italian football. Icardi is in a fantastic situation in Milan, and he’s expected to simply sign a new deal and stay in Italy for the foreseeable future.

United could use a player of his caliber to lead the attack, but with the likes of Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and James Wilson already in the squad, Icardi wouldn’t come in and be a starter from day one. The Argentinian knows this as well—expect him to stay with Inter, instead.

 

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