Portuguese newspaper Record has done what Portuguese newspapers do best and linked a bunch of players with interest from Premier League clubs.
Record have been motivated into producing a big Monday article on possible transfers, following comments from Sporting manager Jorge Jesus.
“Sporting have five players who will be coveted until the close of the market”, Jesus claimed in a press conference over the weekend.
Record believe they know who those players are, and which clubs are likely interested. As far as Manchester United go, the man in question is William Carvalho.
Long linked with Manchester United, there doesn’t appear a role for him at the club right now. We wouldn’t rule out Jose Mourinho keeping an eye on Carvalho, if just to annoy his old foe Jesus, ahead of next summer.
Should Manchester United decide to sell several midfielders between now and then, and Carvalho grow in stature and improve his game, then things may well change. But a move within the next couple of weeks, the rest of the transfer window, would appear unlikely.
Arsenal, PSV and Chelsea are also linked, the Dutch club almost certainly can’t afford him.
When it does come the time to someone to buy Carvalho, it’s unlikely they’d have to pay the player’s full €45m clause. Carvalho has an agreement which means if Sporting don’t accept €35m, they have to give him €5m.
