William Carvalho is aware of speculation linking him with Manchester United, but insists he is in no rush to quit his current club for England.
The 22-year-old was a reported target for the Reds when David Moyes was in charge, and although the sacked Scot has been replaced by Louis van Gaal, the midfielder remains on the agenda as the Old Trafford club look to rebuild after a disastrous season which saw them not only trophyless, but also fail to qualify for Europe next term.
Carvalho is the type of defensive midfielder United have been crying out for over the past couple of years, and even more so following the poor form of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley last season. The player would cost a fee of around £30million, but he has revealed he is in no rush to quit Sporting Lisbon for the Premier League.
“My future will not be a problem,” Carvalho, who is currently preparing for the World Cup with his Portuguese team-mates, told SIC. “I am joining the national team with my future resolved. I am a Sporting Lisbon player until June 2018 and when I return from the national team, I’ll be back training at Lisbon. Everything else is just speculation.”
Van Gaal is expected to be given as much as £150million to spend ahead of next season, and the Daily Mail claim a £20million deal has already been agreed with Bayern Munich for Toni Kroos. However, since this report, it has emerged that the midfielder is no longer a top target, and that he is likely to remain with his current club until 2015.
The same tabloid also claims the Dutch coach wants to make a second raid on Bayern, one of his former clubs, to lure Arjen Robben back to England. The Holland international played a key role in Chelsea’s two title wins in 2005 and 2006, but the 30-year-old winger remains under contract at the Allianz Arena until the summer of 2017.
Meanwhile, one player who could be heading out of the Old Trafford door in the coming weeks is Javier Hernandez. The popular striker is behind Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck in the United pecking order, and although his chances may improve under van Gaal, his national coach has advised him to move on.
“There is obviously uncertainty [regarding my future], but right now I am fully focused on the national team at the World Cup,” responded the 25-year-old. “My agent and my staff help me work it all out. My future could be decided tomorrow, a little after or within three months. (I could) stay there (in Manchester), I really don’t know.”
