Manchester United have made advanced moves to sign long-term target William Carvalho.
Carvalho, who plays for Portuguese side Sporting, may head to Old Trafford in a possible swap deal, which would see Nani move the other way next summer.
Premier League rivals, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all in the hunt for Carvalho, but United hope the swap, worth around £24m, would tempt Sporting into a deal.
Nani, currently on a season-long loan at Sporting after falling out of favour at United under Louis Van Gaal, would cost £10m, leaving United with only £14m cash to pay for Carvalho.
It would work out a shrewd business move for United to remove Nani from their payroll, his large wages costing the club 6.24m.
And with no realistic chance of getting back into the Old Trafford first team fold, a swap deal may be best for all parties.
Carvalho said: “We all have ambitions and I hope one day to play in the best leagues in the world, the English or Spanish.
“It was not this year, but if I continue to do my job as I have done so, it will certainly come sooner or later.”
Steve Osborne @SteveOsborne23
