Rumour: Manchester United open talks for William Carvalho

Manchester United are reportedly stepping up their efforts to bring Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho to the club and have opened negotiations over a deal for the holding midfield man.

The Daily Mail have claimed that Carvalho is the top target of Manchester United manager David Moyes, who is set for a busy summer of spending following an underwhelming season so far.

Negotiations are reportedly already ongoing, although the clubs are believed to be some way apart in their valuations of the player. United have reportedly offered £25 million for the 21 year old – a fee that is £4 million short of Sporting’s £29 million asking price.

The Manchester club are hoping to finalise the deal before the start of the World Cup, meaning that they may not have time to play hardball and could end up upping their initial valuation.

Carvalho has already won his first international cap for Portugal, despite his tender age, and has become a regular in the Sporting side.

He spent much of last season out on loan at Belgian side Cercle Brugge but has returned to Portugal this season and graduated to the Sporting first team, having made 22 league appearances for the Lisbon outfit.