Manchester United and Arsenal Continue to Dispatch Scouts to Watch Over William Carvalho

Manchester United and Arsenal are continuing to track Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho with a summer move looking increasingly likely for the Portugal international.

The Premier League duo have been tracking the 21-year-old midfielder throughout the season but did not attempt to bring him to the Premier League during the January transfer window after being told he would not be sold mid-season under any circumstances.

But both United and Arsenal are confident Sporting will be willing to do business during the summer months and have maintained their relentless scouting of Carvalho following the closure of the transfer window.

A Bola report that representatives from both clubs where in attendance as Sporting were held to a goalless draw by Academica at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Sunday evening with the midfielder thought to be the subject of their attention.

The powerful midfielder has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season for Sporting this campaign and was rewarded with his first Portugal cap in November. His performances have greatly impressed David Moyes and his backroom staff who have reportedly travelled to Lisbon on six occasions this season to watch the 21-year-old in action prior to last night's trip.

It was also reported last year that Arsene Wenger had dispatched trusted scout Francis Cagigao to watch over Carvalho while he considers making him Mikel Arteta's long term replacement in midfield.

The midfielder has a release clause of £37m inserted in his contract but reports suggest United in particular are confident of negotiating a lower fee. Despite securing the services of Juan Mata, the club's dearth of central midfield options will now persist to the summer after failing to entice any targets into a January move.

United's scouting missions across the continent became well-documented in January and Moyes indicated such trips were in preparation for moves in the summer.

"It's given us all a chance and the staff have been out and about. But January is a difficult month to bring people in, as I have said many times. All the work has really been done prior to January.

"A lot of the work we are doing now is for the summer, what we are going to do in the summer and what we're getting ready for."