What Does Willian's Capture Mean For Juan Mata

Willian playing against Chelsea in last season's Champion's League match

Chelsea completed their £30million deal for Anzhi Makhachkala’s attacking midfielder Willian last night, just 24 hours after making their first dramatic move.

The 25-year-old Brazilian was actually having his medical for Tottenham when the call came, and a work-permit hearing had been arranged for yesterday morning.

But suddenly he was talking to Chelsea, who had had a bid accepted by Anzhi after calls between owners Roman Abramovich and Suleyman Kerimov, and the hearing was cancelled.

After talks on Thursday night, a five-year contract was agreed with Chelsea and the deal was finally completed yesterday afternoon – barring a work permit hearing, which is expected to be a formality, early next week.

As a boost for Chelsea just before they face Manchester United on Monday night, it was immaculate in its timing, particularly as manager Jose Mourinho has made it clear that his spending has not ended and that he is still after Wayne Rooney and will chase the United star until the transfer window closes.

But the big question is what does Willian’s arrival mean for the rest of Chelsea’s squad? He fits into an area of the team where Chelsea are spectacularly well equipped.

Skilful, speedy attacking midfielders are not in short supply around Stamford Bridge.

Here is the cast list: Oscar, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Victor Moses, Andre Schurrle, Kevin de Bruyne, Marco van Ginkel, and now Willian. And you can add to that array of talent another Brazilian, Ramires, who can play both as a holding player and attacking midfielder.

Mourinho denies that he will have to sell to accommodate Willian, who is a player the club have been chasing for more than two years.

He said: “The point is not to sell. The point is I want a 22-player squad. So if somebody comes do we need to sell? No, we don’t. Do we need to loan out, probably yes because I don’t like to work with big squads. I like to work with a small group and 22 is a perfect number.”

But the one player that the signing raises a massive question mark over is the skilful Spaniard, Juan Mata.

He scored 20 goals in all competitions last season and was the creator of countless more through his astute passing and crossing. And the former Valencia player is a massive favourite with the Chelsea fans.

Mourinho said: “There is no speculation about Juan. He’s a player we all like, he’s a player we all want to keep.

“We want more quality in the team, we don’t want less quality. We want to add quality to the quality we have. So Juan is not a player we want to lose.

“Every one of us managers, we say we are happy but we are always unhappy. We always want something more, something of more quality. We never close the door to the possibility of adding more quality.”

Mourinho, though, is known to be less of a fan of Mata than previous managers. The player does not altogether fit the Mourinho bill of being both strong and quick.

Real Madrid looked closely at Mata at the start of the window, but as they close in on Gareth Bale, they are unlikely to be looking for another midfielder.

Manchester United have also been keen and there is the possibility of using Mata as bait for a Rooney deal. But Mourinho denied that plan had been discussed.

Real Madrid looked closely at Mata at the start of the transfer window

The point is not to sell. The point is I want a 22-player squad. So if somebody comes do we need to sell? No, we don’t. Do we need to loan out, probably yes because I don’t like to work with big squads. I like to work with a small group and 22 is a perfec

Jose Mourinho

He now wants to concentrate fully on Monday night’s game, which he heads into with six points under his belt.

He admitted it will be an unusual feeling not to be taking on his old foe and friend Sir Alex Ferguson.

But Mourinho said: “David Moyes has experience, he knows that cannot change what has already happened there. The history with Sir Alex is there for ever.

“Is that a problem to David? I don’t think so. I think maybe he doesn’t want to be compared with Sir Alex. He can’t be compared because Sir Alex has an incredible history there, and he has just arrived.

“But he is an experienced manager, he has years and years and years in the Premier League.

“He works now with better players than he did in the past. He has different ambitions than in previous years. He’s in the best moment of his career.

“Maturity, experience, a big, big club, very good players, he’s in a fantastic position.

“I think he’s going to do very well. I hope he doesn’t win everything, and he leaves something for others.”