Manchester United have joined rivals Chelsea in the chase for Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, with Bayern Munich open to selling the player
Manchester United are set to go head to head against Premier League rivals Chelsea to try and sign Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal, as per reports from German outlet Bild.
The 30-year old former Chile international is out of contract with the Bavarians at the end of the next season and it is understood the club are willing to grant a sale in the summer, after having signed Leon Goretzka on a free transfer from Schalke, with the German international set to join Bayern in the summer.
With the likes of Thiago Alcantara, Corentin Tolisso and Javi Martinez also at the club, Die Roten have decided to allow Vidal to leave at the end of the season.
And Manchester United have reportedly expressed interest in signing him. The Red Devils are on the lookout for midfield reinforcements in the summer, with Marouane Fellaini set to leave the club and captain Michael Carrick retiring.
Having recently signed Vidal’s former Chile teammate Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, United are keen to bring the 30-year old midfielder to Old Trafford as well in order to reunite the duo that won the Copa America in 2015 and 2016.
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Chelsea too are believed to be in the hunt for Vidal’s signature, with the Blues’ manager Antonio Conte keen on working with the midfielder who he managed at Juventus and enjoyed a lot of success. However, with the former Italy manager’s future at the Stamford Bridge under a cloud of uncertainty, United might have the edge in the pursuit.
Vidal, earlier this month, ruled out the possibility of a January exit from the Allianz Arena, but was coy on his future beyond the current campaign.
“I’m still here until June and I’m happy,” he said.
“I hope to win the Champions League and then we’ll see what happens. But at this moment I am 100 per cent at Bayern and there is no chance of changing teams.”
Vidal, who has scored six goals in 17 Bundesliga games this season, is expected to cost United in the range of £37 million in the summer, but given his experience and proven pedigree, the valuation shouldn’t seem all that steep, despite his age.
If signed, he would be expected to slot in as part of a midfield trident with Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba. A complete box-to-box midfielder, Vidal would be able to support the Serbian defensively and help out going forward has well, while also allowing Pogba more freedom to play in the attacking half of the pitch.
