Long-term Arsenal target William Carvalho extends Sporting Lisbon contract until 2020

Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho has extended his contract with the Portuguese club until the end of the 2019-20 season, with a buyout clause set at €45 million.

The 23-year-old - whose previous deal with Sporting expired in 2018 - has reportedly attracted strong interest from Arsenal. The Gunners will now have to pay up if it so wishes to bring the Portuguese international to the Emirates.

Carvalho admitted that he has "always been fond" of Arsenal after growing up watching Thierry Henry play in the Premier League.

He would fit in perfectly for the Londoners, who have had problems in the defensive midfielder position. Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla have both spent extended periods of time on the treatment table this season, while Aaron Ramsey has struggled with form and Mathieu Flamini has offered little quality.

Carvalho suffered his own injury before the start of the campaign in Portugal. But he has since started in 13 league matches, scoring one goal and helping Sporting to second in the Portuguese Liga.