Hammers set for £25m midfielder bid

West Ham United are tonight being reported as being ready to launch a £25 million bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho.

And this would fit with regular reports from CandH that Slaven Bilic has rejected the chance to buy a new striker because he is far more interested in reinforcing his midfield.

According to the Mail on Line West Ham have been wary of doing business in the past with Sporting Lisbon who have demanded a price closer to his release clause which is understood to be £39.5million.

Now though the Hammers,  hope they can broker a compromise involving Carvalho’s new agent Pere Guardiola, brother of Manchester City boss Pep.

City, West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal have all been linked with Carvalho this year as they look for holding midfielders.

The player has appeared 37 caps times for his country, winning Euro 2016, and is eager to move to the Premier League with London being particularly attractive.

West Ham have already broken their club transfer record to bring in strikers Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic but Slaven Bilic recognises he needs a quality ball-winner to protect his defence.