Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes throws cold water on Arturo Vidal-to-Chelsea rumors

Before the winter transfer window opened its ... doors ... Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte caused a bit of a stir by telling the press that he would always love to have his midfield general Arturo Vidal by his side — if he could do so. While Conte was merely talking platitudes, the words, combined with Vidal’s contract situation at Bayern, only served to fuel further rumors.

This is of course hardly the first time Conte has been linked with a reunion with Vidal, and Chelsea themselves had been linked many times since the Chilean first burst onto the scene with Leverkusen in 2011. But just like all those previous times, this time it’s also proving mostly nonsense.

Here’s Bayern head coach Jupp Heynckes (he’s back again!) to throw cold water on the whole thing, just in case you thought there was something to the latest links started by some random tabloid in Chile.

”There’s no contact between Chelsea and Bayern. We won’t sell Arturo Vidal or any other player during the winter market.”

-Jupp Heynckes; source: FourFourTwo

Surprise! Said no one ever.

Vidal may be over 30 (which is another strike against Chelsea potentially offering big money and wages for him) but he remains one of the world’s top players at his position and therefore, a very important part of Bayern’s squad. He will be entering the final year of his contract this summer, so unless they offer him a new contract (which they probably will), he will continue to pop up in the rumor mill.

Until then, we move on.