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Mata kicks off United spending spree

Yohan Cabaye scored for Newcastle against Manchester United this season © PA Photos

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The signing of Juan Mata will spark a flurry of activity by Manchester United ahead of Friday's transfer deadline, with Wayne Rooney, Yohan Cabaye and Luke Shaw all set to cash in.

Mata joined the club for £37 million from Chelsea this weekend, the deal being concluded on Saturday evening after much anticipation throughout the week.

No excuses now for Moyes

• Throughout Manchester United's struggles in the first half of this season, there has remained a weight of support for manager David Moyes from the club's fans.
• Part of this is fuelled by good, old-fashioned love for the club, and believing that such positivity will sustain the glorious run they enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson.
• However, another part of this backing comes almost in place of perceived lack of backing for Moyes when he first arrived in the summer, with only Marouane Fellaini joining the club. New chief executive Ed Woodward was to blame for some onlookers, as well as the bête noire that is the Glazers, of course.
• Now, with the club record fee smashed and more - apparently - to come before the window closes on Friday, any doubts over the backing for Moyes should be eradicated. It's his team now, his club even. The Old Trafford pressure cooker just got £37m warmer.
• Steven Saunders, Senior Editor, ESPN.co.uk

Next up will be Wayne Rooney, who is set to receive a £300,000-a-week deal to head off a possible departure in the summer and keep him as a figurehead of the team Moyes is trying to build.

However, the Sunday Mirror reports that United are prepared to spend in excess of £20m on Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, after United also emerged as favourites to sign long-term Chelsea fancy Luke Shaw.

Sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday that moves are afoot to sign Shaw. Figures reported around the Shaw deal go as high as £30m, which would make the Southampton man the most expensive British defender of all time, eclipsing the £29m United paid for Rio Ferdinand when they signed him from Leeds in 2002.

Cabaye has also attracted interest from his homeland France, with Paris Saint-Germain boss - and former United defender - Laurent Blanc recently confirming his admiration of the player.

An Old Trafford source told the Sunday Mirror: "Signing Juan Mata is a major step forward - but it is also a signal of intent for the future. There is now an acceptance at the club that the squad needs a major overhaul and money will be made available for David Moyes to do just that.

"Securing the future of Wayne Rooney is an important part of the plan and proves that we will push the boundaries in terms of wages for the right player."

Manchester United themselves could not hide their satisfaction at the Mata deal, trumpeting it again to their supporters on the club's official Twitter feed on Sunday morning:

Good morning! No, it wasn't a dream... @JuanMata10 is a United player. Looking forward to Tuesday night vs @CardiffCityFC... #mufcmata

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 26, 2014

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