• Spain international also linked to Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool
• Mata captained Spain under-21 to European Championship

Valencia have reached “an agreement in principle” with Chelsea for the sale of Juan Mata. They did not disclose the fee for the 23-year-old and added that the transfer was subject to the winger passing medical tests on Monday. Reports in the Spanish press suggest Mata will cost Chelsea £26m.

André Villas-Boas has identified a lack of creativity in Chelsea’s midfield as one area which requires improvement before the transfer window closes and the manager will no doubt hope the Spain international can provide some energy to an ageing squad. He will join the striker Romelu Lukaku and the midfielder Oriol Romeu among the new arrivals at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are not the only Premier League club to have shown an interest in Mata, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool linked with a player who has flourished at the Mestalla after failing to break through at Real Madrid.

Mata joined Valencia from Madrid in 2007 and has emerged as one of their most important players, his form earning him a regular place in the Spain squad. He was a member of the party who won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and was the captain of the under-21 team who won European Championship in Denmark this summer.

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• Croatian stuns Spurs while on tour in South Africa
• Midfielder’s request follows Spurs’ rejection of £27m bid

The breakdown in relations between Luka Modric and the Tottenham Hotspur chairman, Daniel Levy, was complete on Wednesday when the midfielder handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move to Chelsea.

Modric took the step after Tottenham, who have said he is not for sale at any price, rejected a second offer from Chelsea which valued the Croatia international at £27m and followed a previous £22m bid.

The playmaker flew to South Africa with his team-mates for a pre-season tour out of respect for his manager, Harry Redknapp, who has repeatedly praised Modric’s attitude and said he understood why the player was keen to join Chelsea. Redknapp has, though, joined Levy in stating that Modric is not for sale.

At the weekend Modric openly criticised Levy in an interview with a Croatian newspaper and accused the chairman of breaking a gentleman’s agreement to sell him to a bigger club this summer.

Tottenham have denied making any such agreement and have been considering whether to fine Modric for his remarks.

The 25-year-old has described Chelsea as his “dream” destination, saying he would like to move to play again in the Champions League next season and challenge regularly for trophies.

Redknapp, speaking before news of Modric’s transfer request became public, said he hoped the trip to South Africa would benefit Modric. During the 10-day tour Spurs are due to play in a tournament that also involves Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

“Hopefully he will go away and get a bit of football now and just get on with it,” Redknapp said. “We hope that he will come back and get ready for the new season.”

Steven Pienaar would be one of the squad members who would benefit most from Modric’s departure but he said he hoped the former Dinamo Zagreb player will stay. “You are always looking to strengthen and for us it’s important that we all stick together as a team and make the most of it,” Pienaar told Sky Sports News.

William Gallas has not travelled with the squad due to a calf problem and the defender Ledley King and the midfielder Sandro are out with knee injuries.

Sandro will report to the club’s training ground on Thursday to be assessed after the Brazilian Football Federation sent him home from the Copa América amid fears that he had torn the meniscus in his knee.

The captain Michael Dawson has reacted angrily to claims that he has fallen out with the hierarchy at Tottenham over a new contract. “I think I have always demonstrated that I am a proud player and captain of this club and nothing has changed in that respect,” the central defender said.

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