Everton FC is reportedly planning to spend the £47.5 million they earned from the sale of center back John Stones to fund their bid for Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata before the summer transfer window closes at the end of the month.
The Toffees completed the transfer of Stones to fellow English Premier League side Manchester City on Tuesday for the second highest fee for a defender and also the second most expensive British transfer in history.
With the money they received, it seems like new manager Ronald Koeman is now in a hurry to strengthen his squad in other positions in the field and Mata is said to be one of his top targets as the summer window winds down to a close.
Caught Offside reported that the 28-year-old Spain international will be on the radar of coach Koeman in the remaining days of the current window as he also searches for a new defender to replace the void that Stones had left in Everton's backfield.
Mata was a former player of Koeman when he served as manager for La Liga outfit Valencia during the 2007-2008 season and so the two already have an understanding of one another if ever they do get back together at the Goodison Park.
The Spain international is still unsure of his future at the Old Trafford as he and United boss Jose Mourinho have a rocky history between them that led to the latter selling him to the Red Devils in January 2014 when they were together at Chelsea.
Rumors have emerged that Mourinho could do the same if not this summer then during the winter transfer window, which is why Koeman and the Toffees are said to be on high alert of Mata's status.
Meanwhile, the Daily Star indicated that "Mata's future at United looked bleak" after Mourinho's antics during the team's Community Shield win over Leicester City on Sunday.
Mourinho sent in Mata as a substitute for starting right winger Jesse Lingard at the 63rd minute only to replace him again 30 minutes later in injury time for newcomer Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Special One justified the late move by saying that the team needs more height during the end game to prevent the Foxes from scoring an equalizer.
Mata is 5-foot-7 while Mkhitaryan stands 5-foot-10.