Vidal offers hope to Chelsea over summer move from Bayern

Arturo Vidal: Midfielder being linked to Chelsea

Arturo Vidal: Midfielder being linked to Chelsea

Arturo Vidal has dropped a hint that he’d be willing to leave Bayern Munich and link up with his former coach Antonio Conte at Chelsea this summer.

Vidal is one of the players incoming coach Conte wants to sign during the close season to strengthen the first team.

Chelsea have been in talks with Italy coach Conte for months about becoming their next permanent manager and are expected to confirm the deal by the end of the month.

They have already discussed possible transfer targets with the 46-year-old and strengthening Chelsea’s midfield, their attack and finding a long-term successor to John Terry are on their list of priorities.

The duo still have a very close bond. Conte bought the Chile international for Juventus from Bayer Leverkusen in 2011 and the club won three Serie A titles before he left to take the Italy job.

Such is Conte’s valuation of the player, he once admitted: “If I ever go to war I’d take Vidal with me.”

Vidal has been asked about the possibility of joining Conte at Stamford Bridge and he, in response to Conte’s quip, replied: “I have always said if I go to war I would take Conte with me. We will see what happens.”

Vidal, who turns 29 in May, won’t come cheap as he signed a four-year contract at Bayern last summer following a £31million transfer from Juventus.