adminARSENAL will have to pay at least £24 million up front to land Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho.
Reports in Portugal have claimed Arsenal made a £24m offer for Carvalho, but it was rejected because the London club wanted to stretch the fee over two payments.
Arsenal have scouted Carvalho for some time and are in the market for a defensive midfielder in the 22-year-old’s mould.
Carvalho has a buyout clause in his Sporting contract that is set at £35m, but it is believed the Portuguese club could be negotiated down.
Sporting, though, only own 60 per cent of Carvalho, which means they are determined to land a full fee up front. Arsenal have also looked at Sami Khedira and Lars Bender in their search for a new midfield enforcer.
Despite signing Mathieu Debucy, Arsenal are also considering potential deputies in the position.
A move for Atletico Madrid youngster Javier Manquillo stalled, while Catania right-back Gino Peruzzi is another option. Arsenal are set to complete the £3m signing of Colombia World Cup goalkeeper David Ospina. — The Telegraph
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