Transfer Balls: Manchester United Get Arturo Vidal For £10m Less Than Arsenal Bid

MANCHESTER United have moved to buy Artuo Vidal, the Chilean midfielder. The fee is a £34m plus one Mexican striker namely Javier Hernández (Guardian) or £31.8m (Independent). Vidal, the Juventus skipper – they are the Italian champions – must be overjoyed to be heading to Manchester United, England’s seventh-best team.

But, then, the Belfast Telegraph calls Vidal “fragile”, which is a comment on his right knee rather then his mind. The Indy says that knee is so dodgy any move “may require a complex, appearance-based contract”.

Back in Manchester, United manager Louis Van Gaal is talking players:

“I cannot say anything about transfers and you have to understand that. When a transfer is finished, then we say anything. But now you have to wait and see. If the moment is there Manchester United shall announce it. But it is not only Di Maria. Maybe Vidal or Messi. We are a big club.”

Angel Di Maria appears to be on his way to Old Trafford. Any move for Messi is unlikely. And the website caughtoffside says the Vidal deal is to be hijacked by Arsenal:

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That seems to be fanciful stuff. But the Metro did report in July:

Arsenal are reportedly preparing a £44m offer for Juventus powerhouse Arturo Vidal as Arsene Wenger looks to beef up his midfield options… Manchester United are known to be big admirers of the 27-year-old, but he has made it clear he wouldn’t sign for a club that is not playing in the Champions League.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger did say:

“Vidal is one of the best midfielders in the world. He has everything. Incredible stamina, perfect timing. He’s a marathon athlete who plays football.”

But Arsenal have made no bid.

But, more vitally, why would Vidal leave Juventus?

“All the requirements are there for Vidal not to leave before the end of the transfer market,” Juve general director Giuseppe Marotta told Gazzetta dello Sport. “The contract extension he signed has made more solid the marriage between Juve and Vidal. Vidal has always said he wanted to stay here and we are more than happy to keep him.”

It’s hard to know what to believe when you read the Press, especially when you realise Vidal has already signed for Mancheter United:

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