Arsenal have launched a club record £18m bid for Valencia midfielder Juan Mata as Arsene Wenger finally prepared to open the chequebook.
With their Barclays Premier League title rivals having already strengthened since the transfer window re-opened, the Gunners are now planning their own summer spending spree – beginning with the capture of the Spanish Under 21 star.
Big spending: Arsenal are prepared to smash their club record to bring Spain’s Juan Mata to the club
Club officials spoke to the 23-year-old’s agent and father – also Juan – with Mata now happy to discuss his future with the European Under 21 Championships complete.
Skilful Mata can play in central midfield or on the left wing and was also part of Spain’s 2010 World Cup winning squad – making one 20-minute substitute appearance against Honduras in the group stages.
His eye for goal and assists are why Wenger is willing to smash the club’s current transfer record – £13m for Russian star Andrey Arshavin – to bring the Spaniard to the Emirates.
Former Real Madrid youth player Mata was one of the stars of Spain’s victorious Under 21 side in Denmark, scoring two goals in the tournament, and has been identified by Wenger as the man to help ease the blow of Cesc Fabregas’ increasingly inevitable departure to Barcelona.
Reports in Spain on Sunday evening suggested that Fabregas, currently on holiday in Ibiza with Barca’s Carles Pulyol and Gerard Piquet, will refuse to return to Arsenal for pre-season training on July 5.
But Wenger may have to act fast to head off Barcelona and Manchester City — who are also vying with Chelsea to sign Udinese and Chile winger Alexis Sanchez — and Liverpool.
The Gunners boss must also be alarmed that Inter Milan have moved to hijack Arsenal’s move for Argentinian playmaker Ricky Alvarez.
Sportsmail can reveal Arsenal chief scout Steve Rowley was in Argentina earlier this month to tie up a deal for Alvarez, but found difficulty in striking an agreement with the 23-year-old’s advisers.
And new Inter Milan boss Gian Piero Gasperini has targeted Alvarez as his first signing after tabling an official bid for the £12million-rated man, who is also target for Palermo, Roma and Malaga.