Arsenal Transfer: Wenger May Make £20 Million Bid for Sporting Lisbon's midfielder William Carvalho

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is planning a £20 million bid to finally reach a deal with Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho when the transfer window opens in January.

Arsenal was looking to nab the 22-year-old footballer in the summer transfer window that passed, but Wenger could not come to an agreement over a fee with Sporting.

However, Wenger has hinted that he might go back in for the defensive midfielder in January as he is confident that £20 million will do the trick, according to the Daily Mail.

During the summer transfer window, Sporting had demanded something around £37 million for Carvalho, but Arsenal could only make an offer of around £15 million.

It seems like the Portuguese club has softened its stance on the midfielder as it has been knocked out of the Champions League in the group stages.

However, it is not clear if £20 million will be enough this time, considering that the astronomical fees they were asking for a few months ago, but the one thing that is certain is that Arsenal could use a player like Carvalho.

Arsenal really needs a good midfielder as it misses a strong presence in the midfield, someone who knows how to move the ball while making those key tackles and interceptions.

Carvalho could quite easily do a Nemanja Matic, who has been pivotal to Chelsea's fortunes since moving from Benfica last January, and become that midfield presence that just gives Arsenal that something more.

However, deals for such players are never easy or inexpensive, and Wenger will need to whip out that cheque book to ensure the move goes through, because Carvalho is expected to be made available by Sporting Lisbon in January.

Wenger is also looking to sign a central defender next month, and Carvalho, who will be cup-tied in the Champions League if he does make his way to the Emirates, has the ability to play as a centre-back as well, something that will, no doubt, please the Arsenal manager.

However, buying a player who can fill in at two positions is fraught with danger, and buying a central defender along with someone like a Carvalho or a Morgan Schneiderlin will be paramount.