CalcioMercato claim that Aston Villa and two other European sides have joined Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Arturo Vidal in the summer. The veteran is out of contract at Inter Milan at the end of the season.
Vidal, who turns 35 in May, is a bit-part player at Inter. On the face of it, he is a key player – having clocked up 24 appearances in all competitions for Simone Inzaghi’s side this term. But 19 of those have come from the bench.
The 131-time Chile star has clocked up 54 appearances for Inter Milan since joining the club in the summer of 2020 – signed by Antonio Conte. During their time togeter at Juventus, Conte called him a “fantastic player”.
Vidal has a glittering CV, but the stamina to keep going. Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Inter have all benefitted from the performances of Vidal. He has 12 league titles to his name.
The report details that Aston Villa have joined Tottenham in the race for Vidal, while Vidal’s ex-Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli wants him at Marseille. Turkish side Galatasaray are also interested.
Villa join Tottenham in Vidal race: Anything left in the tank?
Vidal is an aggressive, tenacious midfielder. A player Conte loves, having signed him before. At Tottenham, Conte likes hard-working, defensive-minded midfielders and on paper, Vidal is perfect.
Villa, meanwhile, need another body in the middle of the park. Marvelous Nakamba is injured, but he is probably below the standard Steven Gerrard wants from his side. Douglas Luiz is being linked with a move.
For most nearly 35-year-olds, they are entering the twilight of their careers. Especially, having played 738 times for club and country. But Vidal has that engine, that stamina, that means he would still improve Spurs or Villa.
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