Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Cannot Afford to Lose William Carvalho to Rivals

Sporting Lisbon officials will be in Manchester to attempt to broker a deal for William Carvalho next week, and Arsenal cannot afford to let one of their direct rivals steal the talented youngster from under their nose.

As reported by the Daily Express' Ben Jefferson, club president Bruno de Carvalho will be in Manchester to speak at the Soccerex Global Conference, and Portuguese sources suggest he'll use the opportunity to talk to several clubs regarding a January transfer of his star midfielder.

Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre and Manchester United assistant Ryan Giggs will be attending the conference, and the Red Devils reportedly already made an offer for Carvalho during the summer.

According to Jefferson, Carvalho's massive buyout clause of £37 million expired at the end of the 2014 summer window, and Sporting are resigned to the fact they will lose the player to a transfer soon enough.

It makes sense to lay the groundwork for a potential January deal next week, with plenty of interested parties in attendance. Carvalho will be an incredibly hot asset on the open market and one that will likely still command a significant transfer fee.

ESPN FC's James McNicholas summed up what the 22-year-old brings to the table:

His strength and skill are one thing, but what really makes him stand out is his preternatural football intelligence. There aren't many 22-year-olds who share Carvalho's instinctive ability to sense danger. He never allows himself to be carried away, focusing dutifully on his defensive responsibilities. In that respect, he is reminiscent of Gilberto Silva, whose immaculate displays for Arsenal and Brazil earned him the nickname 'The Invisible Wall."

Carvalho is little more than a name to most Arsenal fans, a player the club has been linked with for months. Experts and pundits are raving about his potential, but most casual observers have never actually seen him play.

Simply put, the Portuguese international carried Sporting on his back throughout the 2013-14 season. Marcos Rojo may have been Manchester United's marquee defensive signing of the summer, but he wouldn't have looked nearly as good if it hadn't been for the presence of Carvalho.

The youngster has a strong, thick build but is surprisingly quick with the ball at his feet. His vision and awareness are exceptional for such a young player, and while he won't find passing lanes like Andrea Pirlo and the like, his contributions to the buildup play are still impressive.

There's a reason so many top teams are after his signature and Sporting held out this long—he's just really good. At his age, he's both an impact starter and a player with the potential to grow into a world-class defensive enforcer.

Portuguese football expert Jan Hagen believes he's the perfect fit for Arsenal:

Arsenal need that physical presence in the centre of the pitch, and with Arsene Wenger demanding all of his players be technically sound and solid passers, Carvalho presents the French manager with the perfect holding midfielder for his system.

The Gunners simply cannot afford him completing a move to a Premier League rival. Carvalho has the potential to be the best midfield enforcer in the league for a long time, and Arsenal have to do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn't end up strengthening a rival team.

If Sporting are shopping him in Manchester, the Gunners have to be there. Carvalho should be the club's No. 1 target for the January transfer window, and the sooner they can lock up a deal, the better.

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