Manchester United are working hard behind the scenes to complete the signature of Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal, according to fresh reports coming out of Italy this morning.
TuttoSport claims the Red Devils are laying down the groundwork for the proposed £31million raid and hope to complete it by the end of July at the latest.
They are said to be in a strong negotiating position due to the Serie A champions’ ongoing pursuit of United defender Patrice Evra, with the veteran left-back edging closer to his switch to Turin.
While a disagreement over personal terms is the only hold-up in the Frenchman’s likely departure, the fact the two clubs are in a regular dialogue has enabled Old Trafford directors to make progress on the Vidal deal.
They have set their sights on showcasing a new-look midfield in next month’s pre-season friendlies by pairing Vidal with summer acquisition Ander Herrera, who arrived from La Liga side Athletic Bilbao.
Manager-in-waiting Louis van Gaal, who officially takes over when his Holland side’s World Cup campaign comes to an end, handed his new employers a list of targets when he accepted the job in June.
Vidal, who helped Antonio Conte’s side successfully defend their domestic title during the 2013-14 campaign, has three years remaining on his current contract.