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Chelsea boss Antonio Conte refuses to rule out Bayern Munich deal
CHELSEA manager Antonio Conte has dodged reports linking the Blues with a deal for Bayern Munich star Arturo Vidal.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is looking for deals in January
Chelsea are seeking a new midfielder in January and Vidal’s name has emerged as a viable target.
Bayern are supposedly open to selling the Chilean in the New Year.
Vidal played under Conte while the pair were at Juventus.
He moved to Bayern a year after Conte had left to take up the Italy national team post in 2014.
Conte initially refused to answer questions about Chelsea’s interest in Vidal after the 2-0 Boxing Day win over Brighton.
Antonio Conte managed Arturo Vidal when the pair were at Juventus
Arturo is a fantastic player
But he was eventually drawn in to the subject of the 30-year-old.
“I don’t speak about players from other teams’ card,” he insisted.
“I must be honest, it's not right to talk about a player of another team. Especially if you try to link this player with us.
“But Arturo is a fantastic player, I have a great respect for Arturo, and we spent many years in Juventus together.
“If we go to war, I’d always want him with me.”
Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal could join Chelsea in the New Year
Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal train with Chile
Chelsea sold Nemanja Matic to Manchester United in the summer, bringing in Tiemoue Bakayoko as a replacement.
But the Frenchman has endured a mixed start to life in the Premier League.
New additions are expected but Chelsea may also have to trim their squad in January, with Michy Batshuayi’s future in doubt.
Vidal has played 23 games for Bayern this season, starting 17.
He has become a more prominent figure under manager Jupp Heynckes and boasts five goals for the campaign.
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