Barcelona are reportedly ready to rekindle their interest in Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata.
The 33-year-old has featured for just 151 minutes across all competitions for the Red Devils so far this season, making only three appearances and none in the Premier League.
Mata's contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season, having signed a one-year extension last summer, and he will be free to open talks with overseas clubs from January 1.
Barcelona tried to sign Mata before he penned his extension last year, and the Daily Star reports that they are plotting another bid for the Spaniard.
However, the Catalans' perilous financial state means that they would be unable to pay any transfer fee for the midfielder and may therefore be forced to wait until the summer to sign him for nothing.
Man United would be open to offloading Mata's £130,000-a-week wages in January, but are keen to recoup some transfer fee rather than cancelling his deal six months early.
Mata has not played in La Liga for more than a decade, since leaving Valencia for Chelsea in 2011.
Barney Corkhill
