Manchester United are reportedly set to offer Juan Mata to Italian giants Roma in a bid to land Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman.
Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal is a big fan of the 24-year-old and is not deterred by the defiant stance of the Serie A club, who last week said that the ex-PSV Eindhoven player was not for sale.
Mata's future at Old Trafford has been questioned since the arrivals of Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao, and The People claims that Roma are willing to take the playmaker on loan for rest of the season, with the option of a permanent deal next summer.
Roma could face competition for the 26-year-old Spanish international from Italian champions Juventus, with the Turin outfit said to be prepared to offer around £20m for his services.
However, Juve's interest is thought to be dependent on whether they will still be in the Champions League come January.
Chris O'Keefe
