According to reports from The Daily Star this morning, Arsenal have agreed a reduced fee for Sporting Lisbon prodigy William Carvalho.
The 23 year-old defensive midfielder is widely regarded as one of the hottest prospects in European football, famed for his dominant physique – measuring at 6 foot 2 and weighing in excess of 14 stone – and simple-yet-effective play-breaking style.
The Gunners launched an ill-fated bid for the Portugal international in the final hours of the summer transfer window, as reported by The Independent in September, and negotiations between the two clubs have been on going.
Manchester United are also known suitors of Carvalho’s, as claimed by Mirror Football in February, but it appears Arsenal have now agreed a reduced fee for his signature.
Sporting were previously demanding the midfielder’s £35million release clause be met in full, but The Star now claim they’ve dropped their valuation to just £21.5million.
According to The Star, the reduction is largely due to the Portuguese outfit restructuring of all their third-party-ownership deals – including Carvalho’s – earlier in the campaign. They’ll now received full profits from any sale.