Arsenal Target William Carvalho Insists he is Happy at Sporting Lisbon After Summer Speculation

Arsenal and Manchester United target William Carvalho has dismissed suggestions he is unhappy at Sporting Lisbon having failed to secure a summer move to the Premier League.

The 22-year-old midfielder was relentlessly linked with a move to Old Trafford last season, while the Gunners were credited with keen interest late on in the transfer window and were understood to have seen an offer rejected in August.

In the wake of intense speculation over his future Carvalho's performances have been criticised during the opening stages of the season.

However, the Portuguese international insists his spell of poor form has nothing to do with him wanting to leave the Estadio Alvalade and has urged supporters for patience as he strives to rediscover last season's form.

"Nobody ever heard me say I wanted to leave Sporting or was dissatisfied," Carvalho said in an interview with the club.

"I've always been satisfied at Sporting.

"As things have not gone well for me [at] the start of this championship, people think it is because I am upset, but they could not be more wrong. I want to always be right, but that's football, sometimes things do not go on the pitch as we wish.

"I feel I can give more and can do better than last season. I know I have not been at the highest level, but eventually things will go well and I hope it will be in the next game."

Scouts from United made up to eight trips to Sporting games last season with Carvalho thought to be the subject of their attention on many of those occasions. But following the dismissal of David Moyes the club's interest began to fade as new manager Louis van Gaal moved onto other targets.

While Arsenal were also interested, Carvalho's release clause of €45m (£37.5m) proved to be a stumbling block in negotiating any deal. Speaking in September, Sporting club president Bruno de Carvalho suggested an offer meeting that clause may have forced the midfielder's sale - but reaffirmed the club would not do business for anything less.

"I have said several times that Sporting didn't want to sell," de Carvalho said.

"Could I guarantee that any club didn't meet the release clauses of the players? No, but also I said that I thought it was difficult that this happened."