Arsenal Transfer News: Wenger Set To Make Formal €25m Midfielder Bid

With the January transfer window just about to open, managers are getting ready to strengthen their squads ahead of the second half of the season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Arsenal are linked with William Carvalho….

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is preparing a formal €25m (£20m) bid for long-term target William Carvalho as he looks to finally bring in a defensive midfielder next month, according to the Independent.

Carvalho was one of the most talked about players during the summer transfer window with clubs all over Europe linked with a move for the powerful defensive midfielder after his impressive form for Sporting last year.

At one stage Arsenal were thought to be leading the chase as reports claimed the Gunners had seen a £20m offer rejected in early August, and no deal could be agreed as Sporting were understood to be holding out for the full value of the players €47m (£37m) release clause.

However, with the Portuguese side now out of the Champions League following their failure to make it out of the group stages, it appears Arsene is ready to renew his interest and hopes Sporting may now reconsider their valuation of the midfielder.

The Independent are reporting that Arsenal will table a formal €25m (£20m) bid for Carvalho next month having already held negotiations with Sporting in the Autumn, and we’re apparently more confident they’ll be open to a deal now they have no top flight European football to look forward to during the second half of the season.

It remains to be seen whether Sporting will accept £20m or hold out for more, but a powerful holding midfielder is needed at Arsenal and Carvalho would fit the bill perfectly.

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The 22-year-old is also capable of playing at centre-back if required so he’d be a useful player to have in the squad as he’d fill two positions we desperately need to strengthen.

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but I’d love to see the Portuguese international come to the Emirates next month.