Manchester United lining up sensational January swap deal for Real Madrid midfielder

Manchester United could be set to let Juan Mata leave for Real Madrid, with Isco jetting over to Old Trafford in the opposite direction.

Spanish publication El Gol Digital reports that Real Madrid are eager to lure Mata back to his homeland in the January transfer window, as boss Santiago Solari steps up his pursuit of a potential replacement for Isco, who was relentlessly whistled by Real Madrid fans during the club’s shambolic 3-0 loss at home to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

Solari is believed to be keen to snap up Mata, whose United contract expires in the summer, and with the Spaniard not guaranteed a start under Jose Mourinho – he’s only played two full Premier League games this term – the former Valencia midfielder could decide to force a move next month.

Mata, aka the nicest man in football, is undoubtedly a fans favourite at Old Trafford, but if United are offered the opportunity to sign Isco they should jump at the chance, with the Spaniard in need of a fresh challenge having fallen out-of-favour under new boss Solari, failing to start any of Real’s last five La Liga games.

According to the aforementioned El Gol Digital, Isco doesn’t fit into the plans of Solari, while the fans have grown restless. United are crying out for some creativity in their ranks, and the playmaker could be the ingredient the under-fire Mourinho is desperately after.

Isco was linked with a move to United back in the summer. Spanish outlet Don Balon previously reported that the club offered a whopping £160m for the 26-year-old, while back at the end of the Sir Alex Ferguson era the Red Devils overlooked the playmaker after a senior scout filed back a report which remarkably said:

“He’s good, but not quite quick enough and his head is too big for his body.”

Whatever happens this time around, it promises to be a frenzied transfer window over in the red half of Manchester.