Transfer Spotlight: The promising midfielder Arsenal and Man United are both watching

Arsenal and Manchester United could be about to clash over one of the most promising young talents in Portugal, with reports claiming both clubs are watching Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho. talkSPORT’s Transfer Spotlight has more on the 21-year-old…

Name: William Silva de Carvalho
Date of birth: 7 April, 1992
Birthplace: Luanda, Angola
Position: Central midfielder
Club: Sporting Lisbon
International appearances: One (Portugal)

What’s the latest?
Carvalho is having a good season with Sporting, with the side rarely dropping points when he’s on the pitch, and his performances haven’t passed unnoticed. Reports claim that Man United may have already watched him in action on numerous occasions, while Arsene Wenger is said to have sent a scout to compile a ‘detailed report’ on the player. With a contract running until 2018, it could be difficult to sign him in the winter window, however.

Did you know?

1) Born in Angola, Carvalho moved to Portugal early in his childhood, and played for several amateur sides in his adopted nation before joining Sporting’s prestigious academy in 2005.

2) The midfielder made his senior debut with Sporting in 2011, and was soon sent out on loan to lower league side C.D Fatima. A subsequent loan move to Cercle Brugge in Belgium saw Carvalho produce a string of impressive displays, and the glowing reports sent back to his parent club led to a return to Sporting as part of the first team in the summer of 2013.

3) Carvalho’s biggest assets are his superb one touch passing and natural positioning. The youngster excels at linking the defence and midfield with quick, accurate passes, and is never afraid to take the ball under pressure. He has also shown an eye for goal this season, scoring twice for Sporting in 2013/14.

4) The midfielder has been voted the Portuguese league’s best young player of the month on two occasions this season, first for August-September, and more recently, October-November.

5)  Carvalho made his senior Portugal debut in the second leg of his nation’s 4-2 2014 World Cup play-off win over Sweden, playing around 20 minutes after being substituted on while Portugal trailed the Swedes by two goals to one.

They say
“He has surprised me. He has huge ability and is constantly taking on more responsibility. There’s no limit for him. People will talk about him a lot in the future. He’s a great player.” - Sporting winger Diego Capel on his teammate.

Video evidence

Man United and Arsenal fans, what do you think of Carvalho? Let us know below...