Manchester United Transfer News: William Carvalho Bid Prepared, Latest Rumours

Manchester United reportedly want to sign Sporting Lisbon midfield enforcer William Carvalho. The Red Devils are currently tipped to make a £27 million move for the 23-year-old.  

Italian source Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Charlie Phillippe of the Daily Express) has claimed United will make a cut-price bid, even though Carvalho's current deal demands a £35 million buyout clause be met.

The Portuguese international inked a new contract in February, per the club's official site (h/t Phillippe). It's tough to see how United's mooted bid will succeed in this context.

In fact, Phillippe's latest report claimed the Reds shouldn't get their hopes up: "Sporting are likely to decline the offer and hold out until the Portuguese international's release clause is met."

Not only is the fee a potential stumbling block for United, but the Old Trafford club should expect to have to fend off interest from Premier League rival Arsenal.

The Gunners have long been linked with Carvalho, with Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph reporting their interest in early December. In a more recent article, Wilson again suggested Carvalho is a target for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

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Arsenal's need for a midfielder with Carvalho's robust qualities may be greater than United's. Manager Louis van Gaal recruited Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger last summer, so there's no shortage of deep-lying midfielders in United's squad.

But Van Gaal will be acutely aware that 34-year-old Michael Carrick's status is far from certain beyond this season. The veteran holding midfielder is still waiting for a new contract offer, according to Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News.

Ironically, Carrick has already been linked with a possible switch to Arsenal, per Dave Fraser of the Sun, who has suggested Wenger "is set to make a spectacular swoop" for the one-time Tottenham Hotspur man in the summer.

Opting against handing Carrick a new contract would rob United of an experienced leader at the base of midfield. He hasn't lost his eye for a pass, nor his natural sense of discipline to protect the back four.

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Fortunately, though, those are qualities Carvalho embodies. While his physical strength is imposing, it's Carvalho's ability on the ball that really stands out. He's efficient and decisive when picking his passes—qualities Van Gaal would admire.

Carvalho makes some sense as a United target, particularly if Carrick does move on. But with players such as Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger and even Daley Blind, who can also anchor the midfield, meeting Sporting's hefty price may be nothing more than an expensive luxury.