£37m United target can complete Arsenal’s super-team

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Arsenal should move for William Carvalho rather than Sami Khedira to fill their need at defensive midfield.

Arsenal secured a major attacking signing last week, bringing Alexis Sanchez to the Emirates, but their job for the summer is not done.

CEO Ivan Gazidis himself confirmed he was working on more details at the club’s kit launch, and the next big area of priority is defensive midfield.

The Gunners brought in Mathieu Flamini as a stop-gap last season, and he will remain, but he certainly is not the long-term answer in the position.

The big name predicted to be incoming is Sami Khedira, but they would be wise to make Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho the integral cog in their team.

Carvalho is younger, at 22, and has been linked strongly with Manchester United. Sporting have admitted he can leave for £37 million, a fee which it is not beyond the Gunners’ spending power.

Crucially, Khedira who is 27, would demand significantly more in wages, a rumoured £150,000 a week, which would make him Arsenal’s highest earner. He is also coming off a severe knee injury, and while entering his peak years, a younger player like Carvalho could have a higher ceiling.

Carvalho is athletically built, and defensively disciplined. While positionally astute, he possesses an eye for a pass which may be better suited for Arsenal’s fluid style.

Performances at the World Cup illustrates Carvalho’s superior ball-winning skills, also making forward passes at a more frequent rate.

While just a snapshot, to suggest Khedira is far a far better option due to his experience, is not necessarily cut and dry.

Carvalho is a similar age to Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and can be part of a successful side Arsene Wenger is building for years to come.

If he is bought – first linked with a switch to North London in January – to follow Alexis Sanchez, it really could be a significant capture for the Gunners.