Reports this morning suggest that William Carvalho could be a realistic transfer target for Arsene Wenger and a holding midfielder is just what Arsenal need to protect a back line too often exposed and undone.
The 22-year-old Sporting Lisbon star was a target in the summer but Arsenal were unsuccessful on their first attempt to lure the player to the Emirates.
This time there is greater confidence that a deal can be done. Negotiations broke down in the Autumn but a new £20million bid is reported to be in the preparation stage which will likely address areas of the original bid that failed to tick the right boxes.
To start with the exit of Sporting Lisbon at the group stage is an obstacle out of the way and their lack of serious European competition could see them open to the negotiating table.
The midfielder who was born in Angola but moved to Portugal after just a few years, plays for the Portugal national side and has become a defensive mainstay for Sporting Lisbon after a period on loan with Brugge.
Source: DSG
