Arsenal target Carvalho as Khedira doubts grow
telegraph
Arsenal target William Carvalho as doubts emerge over £50m move for Real Madrid's Sami Khedira
Arsene Wenger interested in Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho, a younger and cheaper alternative to Germany's Sami Khedira
William Carvalho, the Sporting Lisbon midfielder, could be Arsenal's next big signing because of increasing concerns at the Emirates over the wage demands and injury history of Real Madrids Sami Khedira.
Despite already spending £60 million this summer, Arsenal are still searching for a dominant holding midfielder.
Khedira, the Germany international, has been carefully considered by Arsenal whose manager, Arsène Wenger, last week refused to rule out the possibility of signing him.
Arsenal would have to commit to a deal worth more than £50 million, with transfer fee and wages, to land Khedira. Real Madrid are demanding around £24 million and the 27-year-old would want a four-year contract worth £150,000-a-week.
The figures involved are made more intimidating when Khediras injury record is taken into consideration. He missed five months of last season after suffering a cruciate-ligament rupture and was forced to sit out the World Cup final because of a calf injury sustained in the pre-match warm-up. During four years at Real, Khedira has missed a total of 68 games through injury.
Arsenal have suffered badly with injuries over recent years and there is a reluctance to take any risks with a player who has a history of spending time on the treatment table.
The Gunners have tried to address their injury problems by appointing fitness expert Shad Forsythe, who has a unique insight into Khediras fitness. Forsythe has been the Germany fitness coach for the past 10 years and worked with Khedira at the World Cup.
Khediras future could become clearer this week once he has returned to pre-season training with Real and Arsenal could yet move for the player if the figures involved drop, or their fitness fears are allayed.
Carvalho presents a younger and cheaper option to Khedira, even though his Sporting Lisbon buy-out clause is set at £35 million. Sources in Portugal believe Carvalho could be allowed to leave for £24 million and the 22-year-old is believed to be one of the lowest-paid big-name players in Europe.
One complication to any bid for Carvalho, and establishing exactly how much he would need to be paid by Arsenal, is the fact he is co-owned. Sporting own a 60 per cent share, Sporting Portugal Fund the other 40 per cent.
Other than harbouring doubts over the physical condition of Khedira, Wenger admitted striker Olivier Giroud was a long way from full fitness after the Emirates Cup defeat by Monaco.
The game was Girouds first run-out of pre-season, but the Frenchman insists he will be ready to face Manchester City in Sundays Community Shield, ahead of the first Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Aug 16.
We did well on Saturday against Benfica and had a great game, scored a lot of goals but on Sunday against Monaco there was another team who have had only three or four days of training, said Giroud.
Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini. We could see it, especially for me it was really hard for me physically and I didnt feel really well in the game but it is OK as I have this week to work because we have to be ready against City.
I have asked to work hard [in training]. For pre-season preparation you have to work hard and there is less than one week to be ready.
Arsene Wenger interested in Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho, a younger and cheaper alternative to Germany's Sami Khedira
William Carvalho, the Sporting Lisbon midfielder, could be Arsenal's next big signing because of increasing concerns at the Emirates over the wage demands and injury history of Real Madrids Sami Khedira.
Despite already spending £60 million this summer, Arsenal are still searching for a dominant holding midfielder.
Khedira, the Germany international, has been carefully considered by Arsenal whose manager, Arsène Wenger, last week refused to rule out the possibility of signing him.
Arsenal would have to commit to a deal worth more than £50 million, with transfer fee and wages, to land Khedira. Real Madrid are demanding around £24 million and the 27-year-old would want a four-year contract worth £150,000-a-week.
The figures involved are made more intimidating when Khediras injury record is taken into consideration. He missed five months of last season after suffering a cruciate-ligament rupture and was forced to sit out the World Cup final because of a calf injury sustained in the pre-match warm-up. During four years at Real, Khedira has missed a total of 68 games through injury.
Arsenal have suffered badly with injuries over recent years and there is a reluctance to take any risks with a player who has a history of spending time on the treatment table.
The Gunners have tried to address their injury problems by appointing fitness expert Shad Forsythe, who has a unique insight into Khediras fitness. Forsythe has been the Germany fitness coach for the past 10 years and worked with Khedira at the World Cup.
Khediras future could become clearer this week once he has returned to pre-season training with Real and Arsenal could yet move for the player if the figures involved drop, or their fitness fears are allayed.
Carvalho presents a younger and cheaper option to Khedira, even though his Sporting Lisbon buy-out clause is set at £35 million. Sources in Portugal believe Carvalho could be allowed to leave for £24 million and the 22-year-old is believed to be one of the lowest-paid big-name players in Europe.
One complication to any bid for Carvalho, and establishing exactly how much he would need to be paid by Arsenal, is the fact he is co-owned. Sporting own a 60 per cent share, Sporting Portugal Fund the other 40 per cent.
Other than harbouring doubts over the physical condition of Khedira, Wenger admitted striker Olivier Giroud was a long way from full fitness after the Emirates Cup defeat by Monaco.
The game was Girouds first run-out of pre-season, but the Frenchman insists he will be ready to face Manchester City in Sundays Community Shield, ahead of the first Premier League game against Crystal Palace on Aug 16.
We did well on Saturday against Benfica and had a great game, scored a lot of goals but on Sunday against Monaco there was another team who have had only three or four days of training, said Giroud.
Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini. We could see it, especially for me it was really hard for me physically and I didnt feel really well in the game but it is OK as I have this week to work because we have to be ready against City.
I have asked to work hard [in training]. For pre-season preparation you have to work hard and there is less than one week to be ready.
