Manchester United table final contract offer to Spaniard

Manchester United have tabled their final contract offer to Juan Mata, reports Manchester Evening News.

Mata’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the season and the Spaniard has interest from Barcelona and Arsenal.

The 31-year-old’s preference is to stay at Old Trafford but there has been no breakthrough in talks about an extension.

United have now submitted what will be there final contract offer to the former Chelsea creator, which is a new one-year deal with an option to a further 12 months.

It would effectively tie down Mata for the next two seasons, though it remains to be seen whether the terms are suitable enough to accept.

Keeping Mata may also benefit United's attempts of tying down star goalkeeper David de Gea, who will only have 12 months left to run on his own deal this summer.

There threatens to be a mass walk out of United’s Spanish-speaking contingent with the futures of Mata, De Gea, Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera all uncertain.

Herrera has reportedly agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer when his own deal expires this summer, while the Ligue 1 champions will also bid for De Gea if Gianluigi Buffon decides to retire at the end of the season.

Rojo is expected to be moved on after falling completely out of favour over the last 18 months, but prolonging Mata’s stay may at least keep De Gea happy.

Since completing a £37.1m move to United from Chelsea at the start of 2014, Mata has scored 30 goals and provided 21 assists in 139 league appearances.