Arsenal set for Carvalho swoop as Man Utd refocus on Vidal

Gunners will use Champions League cash to secure Portuguese midfielder for £23.8m

William Carvalho
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Having negotiated a stormy Champions League play-off against Besiktas on Wednesday night, Arsenal could be set to celebrate with the signing of Sporting Lisbon star William Carvalho.

With the Gunners now guaranteed at least £25m from their qualification for Europe's showpiece tournament the Daily Express claims that they will shortly swoop for the defensive midfielder after the Portuguese side said they were "willing to forgo Carvalho's sizeable £35.8m release clause". Instead Sporting will reportedly settle for a fee in the region of £23.8m with Arsenal stumping up £20m up-front with a further £3.8m to follow through performance related bonuses. The Express adds that Arsenal have been given a free run at Carvalho after the other interested party, Manchester United, withdrew.

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Bill Mann is a football correspondent for The Week.co.uk, scouring the world's football press daily for the popular Transfer Talk column.