Report: Manchester United prepare William Carvalho bid

Manchester United will reportedly move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho at the start of 2017.

The 24-year-old has been consistently linked with the Premier League over the last couple of seasons, with Arsenal, Everton and West Bromwich Albion all believed to have failed with bids for the Portuguese international.

It is understood that Man United boss Jose Mourinho is still searching for a defensive midfielder after Paul Pogba struggled to hold his position in the Manchester derby last weekend.

According to Calciomercato.com, Mourinho has identified Carvalho as the player to boost his squad, and the 20-time English champions will make their move when the January transfer window opens for business.

Carvalho, who was part of the Portugal squad that won Euro 2016, came through the youth system at Sporting before making his first-team debut in 2011.