Chelsea make £27m bid for Valencia's Spanish international winger Juan Mata

Chelsea have bid £27 million for the Spanish international Juan Mata as manager Andre Villas-Boas made a decisive move to improve his squad before the transfer window closes.

The offer is expected to secure the 23 year-old from Valencia who are likely to accept the bid ahead of interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal dropped their interest in Mata last week, having allowed a £22 million buy-out clause in his contract to expire, and it now appears that was probably in response to Chelsea’s intervention and the knowledge they would trump any offer.

Villas-Boas is keen to add pace, creativity and width to the team and has agreed that Mata would be an important addition to his squad.

Valencia do not want to sell so close to the start of the Spanish season but Mata is agitating for a move.

Although Mata predominantly plays on the left, the move does not mean that Chelsea have dropped their interest in Porto’s Alvaro Pereira. The Uruguayan can play as a full-back or wing-back while Mata is also adaptable and can even play through the middle if required.