Wenger delay sees Mata cost rocket

EMBATTLED Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger suffered another blow yesterday after it emerged the Gunners had missed a deadline that would have allowed them to sign Juan Mata for £18 million.

The Valencia midfielder had a buyout clause in his contract that would have allowed him to join a foreign club for that sum but the clause ran out on Sunday night and was replaced by a new figure of £52m.

As a result, Arsenal will now have to spend close to £30m if they are to tempt Valencia into doing business.