Mata a brave signing, now Moyes needs bold tactics

David Moyes has rarely gambled on the pitch in his debut season as Manchester United manager, but he is set to show he can be bold in the transfer window with the club record signing of Juan Mata.

United are buying a player of undoubted quality in the Spain international, but there is still an element of risk involved in the Old Trafford club’s acquisition of the Chelsea midfielder as they look to mimic Arsenal’s “Mesut Ozil” moment.

Mata, 25, is expected to arrive in Manchester today for a medical after Chelsea’s efforts to secure the signature of Mohamed Salah from Basel delayed the move for 24 hours. Some see this as a gamble by United and Moyes, a manager who has shown little adventure with his playing style on the pitch but seemingly ready to roll the dice to re-ignite a so far catastrophic first season.

Mata is a world class player and United’s crumbling squad has been crying out for a talent of such quality, but the €45m they are paying Chelsea is also for a plaster to help cover up their obvious deficiencies elsewhere and only time will tell if it will be strong enough to hold it all together for a push into the Premier League’s top four to secure a lucrative place in the Champions League.

While the Spaniard brings quality, he plays to his full potential in a position that United are not short on options — the fashionable number 10 role. Wayne Rooney, Shinji Kagawa and rising star Adnan Januzaj all have the tools to work in that area but it is also not a role that has been used often by Moyes this season with a more rigid formation his preferred choice.

When Arsenal moved for Ozil on the final day of the summer transfer window, there were a few raised eyebrows and questions if he was really needed before the elation of landing one of the world’s top talents for €50m from Real Madrid reached fever pitch levels. Ozil has by no means set the world alight at the Emirates Stadium. He has contributed with assists and five goals but his performances have not had the stand-out quality many would have imagined so far. However, his arrival has coincided with improvements from a number of players at the club and a return of the missing belief that they are a top side which has in turn elevated them back to the stage of Premier League title contenders rather than the top-four chasers they were last season.

United crave a similar effect as they linger in seventh position in the Premier League, 14 points off leaders Arsenal and six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

While they have not given up on their hopes to bring in a left back and a box-to-box midfielder in January, two positions Moyes believes are in much more need of strengthening, the Spaniard could be the only signing.

Moyes has been promised substantial funds in this window and the Glazers look set to deliver which will appease some fans who are starting to turn their attentions back on the American’s controversial ownership of the club.

The fee would be instantly repaid if United secure qualification to the Champions League as they stand to lose just over €50m in various revenue streams if they fail to reach the pinnacle of European football for the first time in 19 years.

That is why they are happy to sanction the deal with no questions asked and Moyes, who has consistently said United did not move for Ozil because he was not the type of player they needed, has gone after a player of similar style. He hopes the arrival of a superstar will burst this campaign into life. But it remains to be seen if by adding more attacking flair, Moyes will loosen the chains on a side that has suffered under an air of caution.

Before they crashed out of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday on penalties against Sunderland, they defended deeply for 53 minutes as they protected a 1-0 lead in the second leg and a slender away goal advantage in the tie.

It typified many of their displays this season — cautious and almost playing with a fear of losing that has been more associated with visiting teams at Old Trafford. Now Moyes has decided to be brave in the window, he will have to show the same boldness in his tactics to ensure his gamble on Mata earns reward.

If it does not, they will not only face up to losing €50m in Champions League revenue but will have also spent heavily on a premium player with problems still in other areas.