Juan Mata admits he'd be sorry if Manchester United lost Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku went AWOL from United training as they prepare for their first game of the new Premier League season against Chelsea this weekend as his representatives try to negotiate a deal to allow him to leave the club.

Meanwhile Pogba is attracting interest from Real Madrid but United are not interested in selling the midfielder unless the La Liga side stump up a huge sum believed to be over £180million and Mata has spoken about how valuable both players are to the squad.

"As a United player you have to be ready for speculation from every part of the world they speak about players coming and going, who we are signing and letting go," Mata told TalkSport about transfer speculation ahead of the window closing. "David (de Gea), Paul (Pogba), Romelu (Lukaku), on a personal level are all very good friends and are all very valuable to the squad and apart from that it's a decision from them or the club there's little I can say.

"They are very good players and bring a lot to the squad, that's a fact. And as friends it's good to have them here, I don't know what's going to happen but I'm glad to have them here."