Oscar funds to be reinvested in possible Vidal signing
Premier League Leaders Chelsea are seeking to reinvest some of the £60million gained from the remarkable sale of midfielder Oscar to Shanghai SIPG according to reports in The Guardian. 29-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal is said to be the primary target for Chelsea boss Antonio Conte as he looks to add further quality to a side currently enjoying an inspired run of form. Chelsea have dominated the first half of the Premier League season, their domination underlined by a current run of thirteen successive victories in the Premier League. However, despite Chelsea’s impressive recent form, Italian manager Antonio Conte has frequently emphasised the need to remain “humble” and continue to improve. It is highly likely that the addition of the Chilean international would leave Chelsea midfielders, such as Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas, on their toes. Meanwhile, the short-term prospects of Chelsea’s younger midfielders gaining any first-team experience at Chelsea is likely to be quashed if a move for Vidal does materialize. These fears are emphasised by reports from the likes of the Daily Mail that Antonio Conte is seeking a loan move for Ruben Loftus-Cheek in order to secure regular first-team football for the youngster.
Despite the improved form of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas (compared to last season), Vidal is not the first central midfielder to be linked with Chelsea in recent times as Marco Verratti has also been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent months with a fee in the region of £30miilion quoted as the likely sum a deal for Verratti would cost. However, with fierce competition expected from Italian heavyweights Juventus and Inter Milan, a move for Arturo Vidal would be an astute piece of business from Chelsea.
On a financial front, Chelsea are in an ideal position to make a move for Vidal after selling Oscar with reports suggesting that Chelsea are on the brink of making an initial £34million bid for the Chilean. However, whilst such a fee represents a significant investment for a midfielder about to turn 30, it remains to be seen whether Bayern Munich will be willing to part with such an industrious midfielder.