Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea are all on high alert after Sporting Lisbon reluctantly accepted that they will have to sell William Carvalho this summer. All three clubs have been heavily linked with moves throughout the transfer window, with the latest offer being a £24m bid from Arsenal last month.
The offer was turned down as Sporting Lisbon are holding out for someone to match the midfielder’s £37m release clause. However, the club’s growing desire to cash-in on the player this summer could see them sell him for much less than that figure.
Reports from Portugal are claiming that the 22-year old will be sold on to help Sporting raise some cash for new signings. These reports are also claiming that they want him gone sooner rather than later, so that they have more time to recruit new players.
Lisbon would want the money up front and not paid in installments and for any team that pays the cash up-front, there could be a substantial discount on the fee.
Arsenal are the most likely to make an offer of this manner, as they have a reputation for doing so. However, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea and Man United will do the same and rekindle their interest in the wake of this development.
By Charlie Gregory
Follow me on Twitter – @CharlieGLFC