According to reports in ESPN, Arsenal are reportedly close to signing Manchester United target William Carvalho who has hinted that he wants to join the Emirates outfit. The highly rated 22 year old has attracted envious glances from all over Europe with a majority of top flight clubs waiting in queue for his signature. However Arsenal currently lead the line and the report claims that Sporting Lisbon is hoping and is ready for a last minute snatch from Arsenal to prize away the Portuguese asset from his native country.
It has been indicated that the player himself is said to favour a side currently in the Champions League and there are huge chances that Arsenal may move for him before the transfer window slams shut on Monday. However he will not come cheap as Sporting want offers to be above £24m to do business. With fitness concerns surrounding Mikel Arteta and the inability of Mathieu Flamini to play the defensive midfield role to perfection, Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger is expected to move for the player as he expects to mount a serious Premier League title challenge after the disappointments last term.
Sporting have already lost one of their prized assets in Marcos Rojo, the Argentine who joined United and is now sorting out his work permit issues. Arsenal have already been after a central midfielder who can screen the back four and also break down opposition attacks and had two of their bids rejected for Carvalho after their interest in want away Real Madrid midfielder and World Cup winner Sami Khedira ended thanks to the player’s astronomical wage demands which Wenger wasn’t inclined to meet.
With just under 48 hours remaining at the time of writing, Arsenal will however have to move fast. Wenger had earlier phone called PSG’s Adrien Rabiot but Italian side Roma are perhaps in pole position to sign the 19 year old French sensation.