Atletico reportedly eyeing move for Chelsea playmaker if Vidal signs
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Atletico Madrid are watching Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas’s situation at the club very carefully, according to El Gol Digital.
The Spanish publication are basing their story around the Blues’ potential interest in Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal. Chilean tabloid La Cuarta reported earlier this week that Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had phoned the midfielder to offer a £13.3m a year wage, and to encourage the player into moving to Stamford Bridge.
Were Vidal to arrive in the summer, it could prompt the departure of Fabregas, El Gol reports, and Atletico would be the club most likely to take advantage of the situation.
First things first, there is currently no certainty that Vidal will leave Bayern in the summer, and there has even been talk that he could sign a new contract at the Allianz Arena. Secondly, even if the 30 year old does sign, it is debatable that he would be in direct competition with Fabregas for a first team place.
Vidal usually plays deeper than Fabregas, and if Conte persists with a 3-5-2 formation that he has employed in recent months, the likeliest player he would displace would be Tiemoue Bakayoko. A midfield trio of Kante, Vidal and Fabregas would be a very exciting prospect, but for the moment, it is just pure speculation.