William Carvalho will be the first block in Manchester United’s summer 2014 rebuilding project.
Carvalho has agreed to join the Red Devils from Portugal’s Sporting CP (Lisbon) this summer, according to talkSPORT.
“talkSPORT understands United have already agreed a fee of around £35 million with Sporting Lisbon and finalized terms with the midfielder on a five-year contract, although the deal will not be made official until the transfer window opens.”
Carvalho, 22, has developed into one of the top young players in Portuguese soccer. The robust defensive midfielder has started 26 league games for Sporting, helping the club close in on a second-place finish in the Primeira Liga (Portugal’s first division).
Carvalho also has progressed through Portugal’s National Team setup and is expected to earn a spot on his country’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.
The reported transfer fee would make Carvalho the second most expensive player in Manchester United’s history, costing a shade under the £37 million ($61 million) the Red Devils paid for Juan Mata in January.
Manchester United will finish in either sixth or seventh place in the Premier League this season. Many expect it to spend around £200 million ($334.4 million) on new players this summer, as it attempts to return to the top in both English and European soccer in the coming years.
Photo via Twitter/@PeoplesPerson
