Bayern join chase for Chilean World Cup midfielder.
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Bayern Munich could be set to rival Manchester United for the signing of in-demand Juventus and Chile star Arturo Vidal, CaughtOffside understands.
The Bavarian giants are in the market for a new signing in midfield this summer as they look set to lose key playmaker Toni Kroos, who has an agreement in place to seal a move to Real Madrid.
A move for Kroos to join Madrid should be confirmed shortly after the 24-year-old returns from the World Cup, where he picked up a winners’ medal with Germany following their 1-0 victory over Argentina in Brazil.
His departure will no doubt leave a major hole in the Bayern midfield, as he has become an essential part of how the club play in recent times, playing a crucial role in their treble-winning season of 2012/13, as well as a double victory the following year.
Manager Pep Guardiola now seems to have chosen Vidal as the ideal replacement for Kroos in the middle of the park, with the Chilean becoming one of the best midfielders in Europe in recent times with his fine performances for Juventus.
The 27-year-old has helped Antonio Conte’s side to three consecutive title wins in Italy, forming a superb partnership alongside talented French youngster Paul Pogba in midfield, and his displays have previously seen him linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Manchester United have also been tipped as strong contenders to sign him this summer, with various reports claiming the Red Devils had agreed a fee with Juve to bring him to Old Trafford for somewhere in the region of £45m, or possibly closer to £32m with veteran left-back Patrice Evra moving in the other direction as part of the deal.
Still, Bayern will now hope to hijack the deal, and may be favourites to land him as they can offer the prospect of Champions League football for next season, while United are out of Europe altogether following a disastrous campaign under David Moyes.
A move for Vidal to choose a switch to the Allianz Arena will have echoes of last summer’s deal for former Barcelona star Thiago Alcantara, who also opted to sign for Bayern despite strong interest from United at the time.
Vidal would fit in well with the Bundesliga giants’ style of play, and they are seemingly ready to pay the money required to rival United for his signature.
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