SEVILLE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 26: William Carvalho of Real Betis celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the La Liga Santader match between Real Betis and Real Madrid at Estadio Benito Villamarin on September 26, 2020 in Seville, Spain. Sporting stadiums in Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
According to Birmingham Live, West Brom are looking at an audacious swoop for William Carvalho. This is, however, not the first time Carvalho has been linked with a move to the Hawthorns. He was a target for the club back in 2017.
Sam Allardyce is keen on adding some more fresh faces to the squad after signing the likes of Robert Snodgrass and Andy Lonergan this month. While Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has quashed any rumours of an exit, Carvalho has been linked with a transfer nonetheless. (h/t Birmingham Live)
West Brom are still in relegation trouble following their recent win against Wolves. The Baggies have managed only 2 wins from 18 games so far, leaving them 19th in the standings, 5 points adrift of safety. With just 14 goals scored and 41 conceded, it’s clear that they need significant improvement at both ends of the pitch to climb up the table in the coming months.
While bringing in reinforcements up top and at the back should be high on the club’s agenda, the arrival of William Carvalho would surely go a long way towards strengthening West Brom’s midfield. The likes of Romaine Sawyers and Jake Livermore were quite brilliant in the Championship last season but neither has managed to make a significant impact in the top-flight so far.
This makes the signing of Carvalho all the more important. An experienced campaigner in top-flight football, he has close to 200 appearances for Sporting and more than 70 appearances for Betis. (h/t Transfermarkt)
With the club having no significant breaks this year, having extra men in the squad always helps. Noted for his towering physicality and ability to shield the backline, Carvalho is predominantly a defensive midfielder by trade but has often showcased the versatility to play in a box-to-box role as well.
That, coupled with his vast experience and impressive exploits, both at the club and international level, makes him an instant upgrade on the defensive midfielders the club have on their books.
Suffice to say, the Baggies making a renewed attempt to sign William Carvalho in January would add more quality to their midfield. The Portuguese international still has several years remaining in his prime. That should make him an excellent addition to their midfield ranks.