Emirates Stadium side keen on young defensive midfielder.
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Arsenal reportedly failed with a deadline day move for much sought after Sporting Lisbon youngster William Carvalho according to Portuguese source Abola.
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The north London side are said to have offered £12m plus Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell in exchange for the enforcer but it was seemingly an offer that the Primeira Liga side were not willing to accept.
The Gunners could well have done with an additional defensive midfield option with Wenger currently having to rely upon veteran Spaniard Mikel Arteta in a holding role and French battler Mathieu Flamini as something of a back-up.
Carvalho has enjoyed a strong showing over the past 18 months, helping Sporting Lisbon to a runners-up finish last term before being named as part of Paulo Bento’s Portuguese national team squad for the 2014 World Cup finals.
Wenger brought in five high-profile summer signings; Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina, Calum Chambers and Danny Welbeck, and will have to hope his squad possesses enough strength in depth, and real quality, to mount a genuine push for major honours.
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