Bayern Munich confirm £24.5m deal for Juventus star Arturo Vidal

The Chile international midfielder looks set to join Bayern Munich after a fee was agreed between the clubs.

“I can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with both parties - Juventus Turin and the player," said the Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge speaking during the club's pre-season trip to China.

"We are only lacking the medical examination and the signing of the contract. If everything goes as expected, he can start training next week."

Having reportedly agreed a five-year deal worth £90,000 per week he will join Douglas Costa as the second summer arrival at the Bundesliga champions.

Vidal is the latest high-profile first-team player to leave Juventus in the wake of their Champions League final defeat to Barcelona last month, with Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo already departed.

Paul Pogba will not be joining them with Juventus chief exeutive Giuseppe Marotta adamant that the France midfielder was not for sale at any price this summer.

Massimiliano Allegri's squad re-shaping at Juventus has already begun in earnest with Mario Mandzukic, Sami Khedira and Paulo Dybala likely to be joined by more arrivals before the start of the new season.

He brings a touch of fire and a real zest to a team judging by his performance in the Champions League final. How he managed to avoid a red card against Barcelona for a series of late challenges is a minor miracle, but there is no doubt about his attributes as a serious attacking threat when he is in the right frame of mind. Fresh from helping Chile win the Copa America, Vidal is comfortable roaming from box to box, and can be devastating on the counter attack. Vidal has stamina, pace, can tackle and has reliable ability with his head. He can operate as a false nine, and will bring a sense of variety to Munich.

At times unpredictable, at times hot-headed, the trick for Bayern coach Pep Guardiola is to exploit Vidal's wide range of skills for Bayern's benefit. Munich have Xabi Alonso, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez in midfield. They did not need a similar careful, studied passer of the ball. Which Vidal is not.

If fellow new signing Costa replaces the injured Franck Ribery and Vidal goes straight into the team then Bayern's first XI at the start of the season could look something like this: