Red zone: A number of Manchester United players are at risk of injury

Odds slashed: Everton installed as favourites to sign Manchester United first-team star

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Published on:

23 Jun 2016, 2:43 pm

By Alex Stevens

Everton have been installed as the favourites to sign Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata.

The former Chelsea man had his odds slashed to 11/4 by betting company Sky Bet on Thursday afternoon to make what would be a stunning move to Goodison Park.

Paris Saint-Germain are second favourites to sign Mata, ahead of Spanish trio Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Valencia.

Everton have been linked with Mata as Ronald Koeman prepares a list of targets for the £100million transfer kitty handed to him by billionaire Goodison owner Farhad Moshiri.

Mata's Old Trafford future is in doubt following the appointment of new manager Jose Mourinho.

The Portugese sold Mata to United for £37million in January 2014 when he was Chelsea boss just six months after the Spaniard had been named the club's player of the year for the second consecutive campaign.

Mata, 28, has been an integral member of the United team since joining the club and was a first-team regular under previous boss Louis van Gaal.

Used predominantly on the right flank, Mata made 54 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League giants in the recently completed domestic season, scoring 10 goals and supplying 11 assists.

In other Everton news, the club have lined up a £20million swoop for a former Real Madrid star.

Manchester United

Everton FC

Juan Mata