Sporting manager Jorge Jesus is confident that Arsenal FC target William Carvalho will stay at the club beyond this summer.
William Carvalho has long being linked with the Gunners, and Arsene Wenger is known to be an admirer of the midfielder.
The 23-year-old broke into the first team of Sporting back in 2011 and since then his reputation has grown with every passing season. 2013-14 turned out to be his best season for the Portuguese club as he won the Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the year award. After making his debut for the national team in the World Cup qualifier against Sweden, Carvalho went on to represent Portugal in the World Cup as well, in Brazil.
The defensive midfielder had a mixed season with Sporting in 2014-15, as a lot of inconsistency crept into his performances. But he found his form in the U-21 European championship, as he produced some sturdy performance in the midfield.
Initial reports suggested that Arsene Wenger has shifted his focus from Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who is seemingly heading to Old Trafford, to William Carvalho. Arsenal are in need of a defensive midfielder in this window as currently they dona t have an alternative for Francis Coquelin.
Sporting manager Jorge Jesus is however confident that the Portuguese international will extend his stay at the club beyond this transfer window.
“William is a certainty. Sporting has young people who are already certainties, are not hopes or doubts. William will be enhanced if the team is also.
“Only players value the team respond to winning titles. He’s a player with features to play more. I have no doubt that with me will play more.” a . Jorge Jesus told Portuguese television network SIC.
Carvalho still had three years left in his current contract with the club and according to ESPN, he has a a 45 million release clause in his contract. If Arsenal does make a move to sign him, they will surely try and negotiate a much lower price than that.