According to reports in the reliable Italian website TMW, Arsenal are set to make Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho as their prime January transfer target. The 22 year old was also heavily linked with the Gunners in the summer but despite the London club offering €16m plus Joel Campbell on loan to the Portuguese club, Carvalho stayed put in his homeland.
There is no doubt that Arsene Wenger is in search for a central defensive midfielder who can break the opposition attacks, build from the play and act as a screen for the back four. Carvalho no doubt is immensely talented and despite his tender age would easily walk into the starting lineup at the Emirates.
We had reported earlier that Arsenal are plotting a £20m move for Carvalho in January. It is believed that Sporting have been forced to reduce their asking price for their prized asset following their elimination from the group stages of the Champions League. A lack of top tier European football could see the player finally leave his homeland for lucrative offers elsewhere.
Wenger would therfore be determined to make the transfer happen given that he missed out in the summer. Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta have struggled over the past couple of seasons and are well past their sell buy date. Thus Carvalho would make the right noises at the Emirates.
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