Sporting Lison midfielder William Carvalho is now a target for Real Madrid.
Read more Manchester United transfer news.
Real Madrid have joined the queue of clubs hoping to sign young Portuguese holding midfielder William Carvalho from Sporting Lisbon, according to reports from the Daily Star.
Carvalho had been seen as one of the leading contenders to strengthen the midfield on Louis van Gaal’s arrival as manager at Old Trafford, with the central area of the pitch having been one that was criticised by many last season.
With Real Madrid entering the race, however, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are likely to be seen as favourites for the signature of a player who would be a natural replacement for Sami Khedira, the German international who is expected to be leaving the Bernabeu this summer.
Carvalho has made more appearances on loan with Belgian side Cercle Brugge than he has in the Portuguese league for Sporting Lisbon, but the 30 outings that he has had in green and white have been sufficiently impressive to make him one of Europe’s most highly rated young midfielders.
Tough tackling and with a respectable range of passing, Carvalho has all of the attributes necessary to flourish into the complete modern defensive midfielder, but it now seems uncertain as to whether that development will be in La Liga or the Premier League.