Linked with Carvalho
[article]Last week Portuguese newspaper O Jogo had a small update on the William Carvalho transfer situation. They explained that Manchester United had done the most work on a transfer, compiled the most reports and were in a position to proceed should they want to.
However, their desire to do so was called into question. They explained how the Old Trafford exit of David Moyes could 'drastically alter plans' and mean that Manchester United weren't quite as keen as they once had been.
That fits in with the club not scouting every Sporting match, like they had done previously. On the flip-side Manchester United had been scouting Carvalho since before Moyes took over. In October 2013, Portuguese newspaper Record said Manchester United had been monitoring the midfielder since he was on loan at Cercle Brugge the season before.
O Jogo cover their scouting report for Sporting's match against Estoril on Sunday and they say that the absence of Manchester United was noted, again making the Moyes connection with Carvalho interest.
Liverpool were at the match and it's not the first time they've been brought into the Carvalho picture. In March they were linked with the midfielder and sent scouts then too. O Jogo seem to feel, rightly or wrongly, that Manchester United's Carvalho interest must have been largely down to Moyes.
With them stepping aside, if that's the case, and Juventus pulling back, then Liverpool could push to the front. Not only that, if others really are having Carvalho second thoughts then Brendan Rodgers would surely be able to get the player for quite a bit less than his €45m buyout clause, regardless of what Sporting have said about not selling for [/article]