Arsenal leading chase for Carvalho

Arsenal are leading the race to sign Sporting midfielder William Carvalho, according to the Express.

The Portugal international, who have been consistently linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium over the past two seasons, has been an ever present in Marco Silva’s side this season.

In total, the 23 year old has made seventy appearances for the club with whom he began his career, while he has also had loan spells with Fatima and Cercle Brugge.

He has been capped twelve times for his country, with two of those appearances coming at last summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

Manchester United and Chelsea are also keen in securing Carvalho’s services, though Arsene Wenger is keen to steal a march of his rivals with a bid of £21.5m.

The Gunners, who sit second in the Premier League, are priced at 7/5 to beat leaders Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.