£40million for Mata!

Manchester United have been told to pay £40million for Juan Mata after the champions stepped up their interest in the Chelsea outcast.

Despite posturing from both clubs, Chelsea are willing to sell the Spanish playmaker if United match their valuation — and David Moyes is believed to be on the brink of making an offer.

The deal is complicated because Chelsea still have an interest in Wayne Rooney, but United will not sell the striker.

Red Juan: How Mata might look in a Manchester United kit - David Moyes has been he will have to pay £40m to prise him from Chelsea

On the brink: David Moyes is seriously considering a deal for the Spaniard

Willing: Chelsea are considering the deal if United match their valuation

United manager Moyes wants to add Mata to his squad and the club have the cash to seal a deal for the Chelsea midfielder.

Moyes, who is preparing for the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Sunderland, needs fresh blood. 

United lost for the seventh time in the league this season when Jose Mourinho’s team beat them 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

They believe a deal can be done for Mata, 25, and Chelsea will sell if United find £40m.

It's complicated: Chelsea still have an interest in Wayne Rooney, but United do not want to sell the striker

United have been given enough encouragement to make their move for a player who has not featured in the Chelsea side since he was substituted against Southampton on New Year’s Day. Chelsea’s player of the year for the past two seasons is desperate to leave Stamford Bridge.

Reaction: Mata was unhappy at being substituted in the 53rd minute against Southampton

He reacted badly when Mourinho substituted him at St Mary’s in the 53rd minute. Chelsea went on to beat Southampton 3-0 and the manager said then the ‘door was open’ if players wanted to leave.

Mata has failed to convince the Portuguese manager of his worth since Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge last summer.

The midfielder fears he will lose his place in Spain’s squad for the World Cup if he is not playing regularly between now and the end of the season.

Many Chelsea players sympathise with Mata’s position, but Mourinho has more confidence in Eden  Hazard, Oscar and Willian.

Although Mourinho’s decision to cut Mata adrift appears to have been vindicated, the Spanish  playmaker remains a popular  member of the squad and he is still adored by supporters. Mourinho has claimed he wants Mata to stay, but he didn’t rule out the possibility of the player leaving if he demanded to go.

Chelsea have won their last five games in the Barclays Premier League and are only two points off top spot.

United will pursue Edinson Cavani in the summer after establishing that his club, Paris Saint-Germain, would not countenance a sale this month.

Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have called his former United centre half Laurent Blanc to check on the Uruguay striker’s situation, and the PSG coach said they would not listen to bids in this window but would be willing to discuss the possibility at the end of the season.

Preference: Mourinho has preferered the trio of Eden Hazard, Oscar (below) and Willian (above) to Mata

It proves how comfortable Moyes is with Ferguson’s presence and is using his predecessor’s network of contacts to help to rebuild United.

Moyes was interested in Cavani in the summer but shelved a bid as he pursued midfielders and a left back. Injuries and form have  dictated that a world-class striker is required, though, and Cavani’s dissatisfaction with life in Paris means he is a prime candidate.

That does not mean Moyes wants to offload Wayne Rooney. United are  prepared to bite the bullet and let Rooney run down his contract until 2015 if he continues to turn down talks on a new deal. He has worked well with Moyes and the hope is he will be convinced to stay by the manager’s summer dealings.

Unhappy: Edinson Cavani is not happy with life at Paris Saint-Germain and United are interested

Mourinho completed a hectic 24 hours by flying to Paris yesterday for surgery on an elbow following victory over United and the Football Writers’ Association’s gala  dinner in his honour on Sunday.

He had an arthroscopy on a long-standing complaint hours after receiving his award at London’s Savoy Hotel. The operation,  performed by Dr Didier Fontes, had been planned for some time.

His first-team players had been given two days off after a run of six wins and a draw from the last seven League games. Mourinho is expected back at his desk at the Cobham training ground today as he prepares for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Stoke.

Meanwhile, Hazard has pledged his future to Chelsea, rejecting the idea of leaving Stamford Bridge despite the expected interest from mega-rich Paris Saint-Germain.

Pledge: Eden Hazard has rejected the idea of leaving Chelsea for Paris Saint-Germain

Award: Football Writers Association Chairman Andy Dunn presents Mourinho with an award at The Savoy - the Chelsea boss then flew to Paris for an elbow procedure

‘They often write that PSG are interested in me, because they’re a big club, with lots of money involved,’ said Hazard. 

‘But I’m a Chelsea player and I like it over here. There’s no chance I will leave in January, but I also think I won’t move on this summer. I feel good in this club. This is the ideal environment to make progress as a player.’

Mourinho remarked last week about how Hazard was progressing to become a major player in his team and would be valued by Chelsea at more than £80m.

Tragic end for the little elephant who got lost

This is the dramatic moment a lion single-handedly kills a young African elephant after riding on its back until it collapses to the ground.

The elephant, thought to be around three to four years old, was caught alone as it drank from a watering hole.

Rare footage shows the young male attempt to scare the predator away by mock charging - before quickly turning on its heels.

On the run: A young African elephant flees for its life after being targeted by a lion while it was drinking at a watering hole in the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe

Caught: The lion pounces on the back of the elephant, thought to be around three or four years old, as it closes in for the kill

Losing the fight for life: The lion rides on the back of the elephant until it tires so much it has no option but to drop to the dusty floor

Nowhere to left to run: As the elephant came to a standstill, the lion jumped in the air and twisted - which brought the elephant down to the ground 

  

However, the lion easily caught up and leapt on its back - riding it until it tired and dropped to the floor.

The clip was caught on camera by Heidi and Kurt Haas in the Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

 

Kurt, 67, from Switzerland, said: 'The lion tried to unbalance the elephant to bring it down, but in vain.

'Then he tried to slow its pace down by hanging on to the back. As the elephant came to a standstill the lion jumped in the air and twisted - which brought the elephant down to the ground. 

Taken down: The chase was caught on camera by Heidi and Kurt Haas, who said the kill took around 40 minutes from start to finish

Nature at its most brutal: Mr Haas said there was no sign of larger elephants nearby during the 40 minutes it took for the lions to finish the kill

'I'm sure this is a technique which has been practiced for many years.
'Then the lion's brother came to help but only to hold the elephant so his brother could deliver the lethal bites. 

'The whole thing took about 30-40 minutes before the lions - which included another female and a cub - could then begin to eat.'

Prey: It is believed the young elephant became separated from the herd after being driven to the watering hole by extreme thirst

Back-up support: The lion's brother arrives to help but only to hold the elephant so his sibling can deliver the lethal bites

It is not clear if the young elephant was part of a larger herd or living on its own.

Mr Haas said there was no sign of larger elephants nearby during the 40 minutes it took for the lions to finish the kill.

He believes the young elephant was driven to the watering hole by extreme thirst and may have become separated during the frantic search for water.

Dinner time: The lions sink their teeth into the elephant after forcing it to collapse on the floor during the hunt

Hunted: The young elephant had attempted to scare the lion away by mock charging but when that failed he quickly turning on its heels and ran

Mixed emotions: Mr Hass said it was a privilege to witness the kill 'with the eye of the film-maker and with the watery eye of an elephant lover'

He added: 'It is sad but a natural experience of nature.

'It was a privilege to see it with the eye of the film-maker and with the watery eye of an elephant lover. 

'For us it's a unique experience that we will never forget.'

Lost: It is not clear if the young elephant was part of a larger herd or living on its own, but no other members of its herd where anywhere to be seen

Feast for the beasts: A third lion joins the feeding frenzy at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe

Mr Hass said: 'It is sad but a natural experience of nature. For us it's a unique experience that we will never forget'

"Buruh Paksa"