Jose Mourinho is willing to sacrifice playmaker Mata to grab former United starlet Pogba in a world-record deal with the Turin-based Serie A champions.
Mourinho sold Mata to the Red Devils for £37.1m in January 2014 when he was Chelsea’s’ manager, believing the Spanish international didn't possess the physicality and dynamic presence he wanted in his midfield.
Sources close to Mourinho claim that, that opinion hasn't changed, meaning the 28-year-old star is on borrowed time in Manchester.
It's a grim scenario for Mata, who is a popular figure in the dressing room, around the club and amongst fans.
His best hope is that Mourinho will use him as back-up. But that would represent a major comedown for the Spaniard, who has scored 26 goals in 104 games for the club.
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Italian sources claim Mata has been offered to Juve with United desperate to land 23-year-old powerhouse Pogba, who will anchor the France midfield in Sunday's Euro 2016 final against Portugal.
Juventus want to add more goals to their side, and have a long-standing interest in Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez.
However, it's understood they want a straight cash deal if they do sell Pogba, even though Mata is someone who interests them.
United aren't worried at splashing a record £100million on a player who was in their Academy system for two years.
American-based owners the Glazer family have sanctioned the move, secure in the knowledge that United's highly-successful commercial arm are continuing to sign global deals that are keeping the cash tills ringing at Old Trafford.
And they believe United are on the brink of a return to former glory days with Mourinho now at the helm after the failed Louis van Gaal experiment.