Here is John Cross' Mirror article - with translation:
Arsenal were last night closing in on a £15million deal for Juan Mata – paving the way for Cesc Fabregas to go to Barcelona. I dont know anything about a fee or amount for Matabut its time I carried on with my 'revelation' from last month about Mata. I am not in any way privvy to a link between Mata and Fabregas, but its sounds good if I say it and it might happen, making me look like I am an insider.
Fabregas will not be involved in this weekend’s Emirates Cup, a clear sign that the Gunners are becoming resigned to losing him. I am making an assumption that ***regas is not injured because it supports my sensational claim.
But that blow is likely to be softened by the signing of Valencia’s exciting winger Mata – as predicted by the Mirror last month . I have no idea whether this is likely or not. Sorry i just couldnt resist saying how great I am by telling you I predicted this last month. Yes - I know what I predicted last month still isn't true, but I need to make something up to get paid.
The Spanish star’s family and representatives flew into London yesterday for talks.
Well, I've just made this up, but it adds weight to my made up article.
Versatile Mata, 23, can play wide or as an attacking midfielder and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the deal will be a major boost for his squad. I dont know what Arsene thinks, because I am the last person he would talk to - but I need to look smart
He is still hoping French midfielder Samir Nasri – a target for Manchester United and Manchester City, with just one year left on his current contract – will sign a new five-year deal. I have no idea about the Nasri contract negotiations, but I may as well say 5 years because it makes me sound in the know
Fabregas has made it clear that he wants to join Barca, although the European champions have yet to meet Arsenal’s £40m asking price. Yes, I know he has only ever said he wants to play for Barca one day, but if I am going to keep the pretence of knowing something about what goes on at the club, I need to say it with certainty
That has left the Gunners’ skipper, who has missed all of Arsenal’s pre-season games with a hamstring injury, working on his own at the training ground. Ok, this is not true at all. I just made it up because he didnt go to Germany. I have assumed he's all alone and I wanted to try and paint a picture of an outcast
Barcelona made an initial bid of £27m and followed that up with two more conversations. I am not sure of any conversations that have taken place because no one at the club would ever tell me, but if I say two, then it makes me appear to be very knowledgeable.
But, despite promising a deal will be done by this weekend, they still haven’t come back with an increased offer. Ok, i have totally made this one up - no one has ever mentioned anything about a deal being doen this weekend, but again, I have to appear in the know, otherwise i'd have to face the reality that no one tells me anything and I am an outcast when it comes to Arsenal
