Manchester United look like they might finally be able to get one of their main targets of the summer – Arturo Vidal – during the January transfer window, if Juan Mata goes the other way to Juventus.
Vidal to Manchester United was one of the most talked, written and speculated about transfers during the summer, but the deal failed to materialise for varied reasons.
Louis Van Gaal instead signed the likes of Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao, who have made a decent start to their Manchester United careers.
However, Manchester United could use a powerful central midfielder in their lineup, and Vidal remains in the radar of the Dutchman.
Reports recently suggested Juventus were open to selling Vidal, after the Chilean became embroiled in off-field indiscretions, indiscretions which caused the club to fine their player.
Manchester United remain in the front of the queue to sign up Vidal if he were to become available, and the English Premier League club can complete the move if they make it a swap deal involving Mata, according to Corriere Dello Sport.
Mata made a then club record £37.1 million move from Chelsea in the January transfer window earlier this year, but the Spain international has not quite been able to make the same impact as he did at Stamford Bridge.
Van Gaal has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal in the attacking department at the moment, and the Dutchman can also push Di Maria to a more advanced role if Vidal is brought in to Manchester United.
However, United will face competition from the likes of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund for Vidal's signature.
Real might be in the market for a central midfielder if Sami Khedira leaves in January as expected, with Arsenal and Chelsea in the running for the Germany international's signature.
Dortmund will struggle to match Manchester United and Real Madrid's offers financially, but in Jurgen Klopp they have a manager who can convince any player into moving to the Westfalenstadion.
It does look like Manchester United's to lose at the moment, however, and if Van Gaal is open to selling Mata to Juventus, then a deal for Vidal could well become a reality.
