Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on William Carvalho and Geoffrey Kondogbia Rumours

Arsenal have reportedly made an improved offer for Sporting Lisbon defensive midfielder William Carvalho as Gunners boss Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his squad ahead of next season.

Carvalho has been on Arsenal's radar for some time now and would seemingly be a fine addition in the deep-lying midfield role, a long-term trouble area for the north London outfit.

To that end, Arsenal have apparently tabled a £28.5 million offer for the 23-year-old after failing with a previous £20 million bid, per the Sun's Paul Jiggins.

However, Jiggins claims that the Gunners may have to go significantly higher if they want to get their man, with Sporting loath to accept any offer below the player's reported £37 million release clause.

Sports Witness indicates that Carvalho's buyout clause is, in fact, slightly lower than Jiggins reports, suggesting Arsenal may be closing in on their man:

Either way, Carvalho is seemingly a serious target for the Gunners, and one who could add a vital element to the Emirates outfit's play.

Arsenal have long been missing a true midfield enforcer, who can interrupt opposition play, protect the defence and begin attacks from deep.

Bleacher Report's Graham Ruthven believes Arsenal are just a couple of signings away from winning the Premier League title next season:

Although Francis Coquelin did well in the deep-lying midfield role in the second half of last season, Carvalho has the potential to be a far better player than the Frenchman.

Though far from the finished article, he has excelled for both Sporting and the Portuguese national side, and he is only getting better.

If their reported bid of just shy of £30 million is accepted, Arsenal could have potentially solved a long-term problem in midfield.

Another reported target in the same area for Arsenal is Monaco's Geoffrey Kondogbia, but Tottenham have now entered the race to sign the Frenchman, per Sami Mokbel of the MailOnline.

The 22-year-old is valued at around £25 million, and he is being targeted by a number of big European clubs, including Inter and AC Milan.

With none of Inter, Milan or Spurs able to offer Kondogbia Champions League football next term, the Gunners would potentially have the edge if they made a genuine move for the talented defensive midfielder.

However, Ligue 1 expert Matt Spiro has previously reported that Kondogbia is not a priority for Wenger, with Premier League rivals Manchester City perhaps a more likely destination for the former Sevilla man:

Indeed, in terms of defensive-midfield targets, Carvalho looks like the primary option for Arsenal, and they seem to be closing in on the Portuguese star.

Depth is key for the Gunners if they want to contend once again for the Premier League title next season, and Carvalho could add real strength to a previously vulnerable central-midfield area.