Carvalho set for new Sporting deal but Arsenal and United still keen

Arsenal and Manchester United target William Carvalho is set to sign a new contract at Sporting Lisbon but the Premier League duo remain interested in bringing the Portuguese international to England.

The 22-year-old is set to extend his stay at the Estádio José Alvalade until 2018 with his new deal but Arsene Wenger and Louis van Gaal have been given a boost in the chase for his services.

Carvalho’s new deal will see him earn a significant rise in his wages with Sporting but the £37m buy-out clause will remain in his new contract.

This will put both the Gunners and Red Devils, who made bids for the player last summer, on red alert as they look to strengthen their midfields in January.

Arsenal are desperate to add a defensive midfielder to their ranks with both Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini failing to impress so far this season.

Wenger is also looking for defensive reinforcements and Carvalho, who can play as an emergency centre-back and in the holding role, fits the bill.

He was on a list of targets for the Gunners that included Real Madrid star Sami Kedhira, Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin and PSG youngster Adrien Rabiot.

But the north London club made a deadline day attempt to capture the Portugal star but will have to manage with what they already have after the transfer window slammed shut without any deal in place.

Wenger will face competition from Manchester for his signature if he targets a move for the defensive midfielder again with United also interested in bringing the midfielder to the Premier League.

But for now Carvalho, who should line up for Sporting against Chelsea in the Champions League tomorrow, is focused on his future with the Portuguese club.

The Lions are 9/2 with Ladbrokes for victory and Carvalho have to be on top of his game if his side are to stop the likes of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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