Transfer news: Juan Mata will not hand in a transfer request and remains determined to fight for his Chelsea place

Mata has only started 11 of the Blues' 20 Premier League matches having become a fringe member of the squad this season

Jose Mourinho and Juan Mata avoid making eye contact after the latter is substituted during the 3-0 victory over Southampton (GETTY IMAGES)

Juan Mata will not hand in a transfer request as the Chelsea midfielder remains determined to fight for his place at Stamford Bridge, reports the Evening Standard.

The Spaniard has become a fringe member of the squad since Jose Mourinho returned to the club in the summer, having started just 11 of 20 Premier League matches so far this season.

Mata remained on the bench during the 2-0 FA Cup third round win at Derby County on Sunday, having reacted angrily to being substituted in the victory over Southampton on New Year’s Day.

Mata needs to play regularly to ensure he gets selected for Spain’s World Cup squad this summer and Paris Saint Germain are considering making a £30m bid this month.

But the midfielder is still committed to Chelsea and while there was some concern over Mourinho’s comments that ‘the door was open’ over a possible transfer, he is not looking to quit the club.

Writing on his blog today, he said: "My goal is to keep being happy and trying to make the people around me happy. At the end, that’s what life is about!"