Manchester City’s enticing William Carvalho offer could be fatal for West Brom’s hopes

Follow us on Google Discover

West Brom could have waited far too long to sign William Carvalho with Manchester City jumping to the front of the queue.

After months of speculation, West Brom are no nearer to signing William Carvalho. According to the Birmingham Mail, The Baggies remain interested in a player they bid £20 million for last summer but, as it stands, the Euro 2016 winning midfielder remains a Sporting Lisbon player.

Though it would be no surprise if one of the most highly-rated youngsters on the continent ended up in the Premier League eventually this summer. Though it seems to be becoming increasingly unlikely that The Hawthorns will be his destination.

William Carvalho has been tipped for the Premier League ever since bursting onto the scene with Sporting

According to Portuguese publication A Bola (page 10, 13^th July), Manchester City could make a very enticing offer that may convince Sporting to part company with another graduate of their renowned youth academy.

The report states that City may be willing to offer Brazilian scrapper Fernando to sweeten the deal and convince the Lisbon giants to let the £27 million metronome move to The Etihad in return.

Missed the boat?

Speculation over a move to City has intensified ever since Carvalho joined forces with the Media Base Sports agency, ran by Pep Guardiola’s agent and brother Pere. However, sending Fernando back to Portugal as well as paying a handsome sum could blow West Brom out the water.

Fernando may have struggled to make an impact in three years at Manchester City, making only 14 Premier League appearances last season, but he remains a hugely respected player in Portugal.

He was a regular over six seasons at Sporting’s rivals FC Porto, winning four league titles in a period of domestic domination.

Fernando’s ball-winning abilities were legendary at Porto

And he would be a readymade replacement for Carvalho if he returned to Portugal this summer.

Therefore, it appears that West Brom may have blown their chance. Signing Carvalho would have shattered the club’s transfer record but it was the perfect opportunity for the club’s Chinese owners to make a statement about the club’s ambition.