Arsenal Submit Fresh Big-Money Bid For Long-Term Man Utd Target

As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Arsenal table a big bid for William Carvalho….

Arsenal have tabled an improved £28.5m bid for long-term Manchester United target William Carvalho but that still may not be enough to persuade Sporting Lisbon to cash-in on the midfielder, according to the Independent.

Carvalho is a name many fans should be familiar with as the Portuguese international has been constantly been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent transfer windows.

Outlets such as Goal reported that Arsenal were deep in negotiations with Sporting during the closing stages of last summers transfer window as they tried to thrash our a deal but in the end they were unable to agree a fee for the midfielder.

The Express then claimed the Gunners were joined by Manchester United in showing an interest in Carvalho during the January transfer window but again the 23-year-old ended up staying in Portugal where he continued to impress at Lisbon.

It looks like Arsene Wenger has made fresh attempts to land the midfielder as the Independent are reporting today that Arsenal have tabled an improved £28.5m offer having already seen an opening £20m bid rejected.

However, it appears the North Londoner may have to dig a little deeper as the newspaper claims that Sporting are expected rebuff Arsenal’s latest offer and insist they include a further £8.5m in add ons to take the deal closer to the players £37m release clause.

As with any transfer-related story, we’ll have to take the rumour with a punch of salt until something more concrete comes out but assuming this report is accurate, then we’ll have to wait and see where Wenger is prepared to go any higher and meet Sporting’s asking price.

The French coach is likely to be in the market for another holding midfielder to offer more depth and competition for Francis Coquelin, and Carvalho would be an exciting addition as he’s a powerful player who has all the attributes needed to be a success in England.

It remains to be seen whether United will step-up their interest in the wake of these rumoured bids from Arsenal as Louis van Gaal needs another defensive midfielder to ease the load on 34-year-old Michael Carrick, but I’d be hugely surprised if any club agreed to pay £37m for Carvalho.

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No doubt he’s a big talent but that sort of money should be reserved for proven, world class players and not youngsters who’ve yet to really prove themselves outside of a very average Portuguese league.

Carvalho was excellent during Portugal U21’s victory over England on Thursday and I’m sure he has a bright future ahead of him, but that doesn’t make him a world-beater just yet so I’d be shocked if the likes of Wenger or van Gaal paid over the odds for the young midfielder.