West Ham United are launching a £25million bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho.
The 25-year-old Portugal international has been a target for several Premier League clubs over the past four seasons but Sporting have always proved notoriously difficult to negotiate with, and have demanded a price closer to his release clause which is understood to be £39.5million.
That has naturally made West Ham wary but they are hopeful 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.