Arsenal Plan New Bid For £37m Rated William Carvalho

Arsenal are expected to go in again for William Carvalho in the January transfer window after Arsene Wenger’s declaration that he would try and bring in another signing in the January transfer window. The 22 year old was a target for Arsenal in the summer transfer window, but both the North London club and Sporting Lisbon failed to reach an agreement on his release clause which stands at £37 million.

Although, Arsene Wenger’s assertion during the club’s AGM was that any signing that would come in during the January transfer window would be a defender. “We tried to buy one more, a defender, but we didn’t find one. But we will try to rectify that in January,” he said. Yet it is believed that Arsene Wenger has been drawn to the versatility of William Carvalho as he can play in both midfielder and defence and as a result he is looking to bring him in when the window reopens in January.

The Portuguese international had indicated that he was looking at the possibility of playing in one of the top leagues in Europe. And it is no surprise that he mentioned the Premier League. He alluded to the fact that he was close to leaving Sporting Lisbon in the summer, but for his release clause that was not met, “We all have ambitions and I hope one day to play in the best leagues in the world., the English or Spanish league.”

“It was not to be this summer, but if I continue to do my job as I have done so, it will certainly come sooner or later.”

Whether the sooner or later is one that makes him end up at the Emirates in January remains to be seen.

Signing the Sporting Lisbon powerhouse would represent a positive move for Arsenal. Not just for his versatility (defence and midfield), but the steel it would bring to Arsenal’s midfield, which would aid in setting the tune for the team’s attack as well as protecting the defence, by being the anchor at the middle.

With William Carvalho still harbouring a dream to play in the Premier League, a move for him in January by Arsene Wenger would present a platform for the 22 year old to fulfill that dream.

However, there is a caveat to the possibility of the deal happening, which is his release clause of £37 million. There have been reports that Arsene Wenger would have a budget of £20 million to spend in January, but that sum falls short of William Carvalho’s release clause.

However, there is also  another option if William Carvalho’s move falls through, because there are indications that Arsene Wenger still retains an interest in Brazilian midfielder Luis Gustavo of Wolfsburg. The 27 year old still has the versatility that William Carvalho possesses, but he represents a cheaper option than the Portuguese, and also, there is the small matter that he would not be cup tied in January.

As Arsene Wenger has given indication that the club would try and bring in a signing in January, it remains to be seen whether it would be William Carvalho or Luis Gustavo.