Manchester United has bid 37 million pounds ($61 million) for Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata.

A person close to negotiations says United is waiting for its Premier League rival to sign off on the deal for the 25-year-old Spain international.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized.

In a sign that Mata's departure from Chelsea is nearing, the club's player of the year for the last two seasons did not train with the first team on Wednesday.