Chelsea are closing in on a deal to bring Chilean superstar Arturo Vidal at the end of the season, according to reports.
Speculation over the Bayern Munich star reuniting with his former coach at Juventus, Antonio Conte, has intensified in recent weeks, with the Blues purportedly set to offer the 30-year-old up to €15 million per year.
There was some doubt over whether the Bundesliga champions would be willing to part company with a player they shelled out €37.5 million on only two years ago, but after allegedly agreeing a deal today to secure the services of Leon Goretzka when his Schalke 04 expires in the summer, the door is well and truly being held open for the 97-times-capped Chilean ace to depart the Allianz Arena.
There is no doubt Vidal has proven himself worthy of his hefty price tag during his time at the Bavarian giants, but with the 20-year-old Goretzka a full decade younger than the experienced international, he may struggle to cement a long-term starting position in Bayern’s midfield as the club look to reduce the average age of their first-team squad.
Domino effect?
According to football journalist Manuel Veth, the move will indeed have a domino effect, with Vidal’s Chelsea move now almost certain to happen at the end of the current term. “From what I understand it is likely the Chilean will be reunited with Conte next summer if/when the Goretzka deal goes through,” the International Sports Press Association reporter stated on Twitter earlier.
Antonio Conte has made no secret of his desire to work with his former Juventus charge again; the pair won three Serie A titles together before the Italian left the Old Lady to take charge of the national side. “Arturo is a fantastic player,” the 48-year-old gushed last month. “I have a great respect for Arturo, and we spent many years in Juventus together.
“If we go to war, I’d always want him with me.”
Header image by football.ua [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
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