Manchester United reach agreement with Arturo Vidal ahead of $80m transfer

Vidal's future could be decided soon.

Arturo Vidal has been linked with a move to Manchester United for some time now but it seems as though the transfer is gathering pace, with Chilean newspaper El Mecurcio reporting today in a huge double page spread that the Juventus ace has a "verbal agreement" with the Red Devils and will complete an $80 million (£47m) move soon.

The paper adds that Manchester United have offered the 27-year-old an eye-watering $18 million-per-year, which works out at roughly £10m or just under £200,000-per-week. 

Huge deal

Vidal is said to be one of new Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal's main transfer priorities this summer as he looks to solve a problem that has dogged the club for some time now. Ander Herrera has signed on the dotted line at Old Trafford but the Dutchman still wants another body in the middle of the park, one the can add an element of physicality and dynamism that is currently missing from his squad.

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However there have been more than a few conflicting reports about the Chilean and his potential move to Manchester United in recent weeks. The player himself has admitted that he is unsure of where he will be next season although he insists he is happy at Juventus.

Denial

The Italian club's Director General Beppe Marotta also claimed today that they had no intention of selling their star midfielder - although the Daily Mail reported yesterday that their financial troubles may well force the Turin club to sell up.

Now El Mercurio are carrying the news that all Manchester United fans want to hear; that Vidal is on his way to Old Trafford. Under the headline "Vidal prepares to jump from Turin to Old Trafford", the Chilean source say that a deal worth around £47 million is close - and that figure tallies with the bid that Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport say Manchester United had lodged yesterday.

Manchester United boost

El Mercurio also add that he will receive a salary of $18 million, which would put him right amongst the Red Devils' highest earners.

Were the dynamic midfielder to complete his move to Old Trafford, he would be Louis van Gaal's third major signing of the summer following the arrivals of Ander Hererra and Luke Shaw. Along with a midfielder, the Dutch boss is believed to be in the market for a new defender - that man could be Thomas Vermaelen - and potentially a new full-back.