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Arsenal ‘Most Likely’ Destination For £37m Powerhouse – Reports

By on July 30, 2014

Some interesting news coming from Portugal today with reports claiming that Arsenal are now considered as the most likely destination for William Carvalho after Sporting Lisbon decided to cash-in on the midfielder.

Arsene Wenger is widely expected to bring in a defensive midfielder this summer and with a deal for Sami Khedira stalling and Morgan Schneiderlin seemingly off to Tottenham, Carvalho has emerged as a top target.

Reports earlier this month claimed that we had tabled a £24m bid but it was immediately rejected as Sporting were demanding the full value of the 22-year-old’s £37m buy-out clause.

However, we’ve been handed a major boost with Portuguese newspaper Record reporting today that Sporting chiefs have held an emergency meeting to discuss the clubs precarious financial position and it was decided they have no option but to sell Carvalho to the highest bidder.

The paper states that Sporting are so desperate, they are now willing to sell at ‘substantially’ below his £37m buy-out fee as long as the buying club are prepared to pay the entire fee up front and not spread it out over installments.

Carvalho is part-owned by an investment company meaning only 50% of any sale price will go to the club, so Sporting are demanding the entire fee in advance to help pay the bills and fund a replacement.

This puts Arsenal in a strong position over other clubs are we are cash rich and will have no problem being able to stump up a large sum of money, so the paper suggests that we are now the most likely destination for the midfielder this summer.

While I’d still prefer us to sign Khedira or Schneiderlin, Carvalho would be an excellent alternative and he’s certainly got a bright future ahead of him. He doesn’t have the winning mentality of Khedira or the Premier League experience of Schneiderlin, but he’s a beast of a player and would bring some much needed physicality to our midfield.

I have a feeling Arsene may see how things pan out with Khedira and Schneiderlin before taking any decision over Carvalho, but I’d be pleased enough if he ended up being our defensive midfield signing this summer.