The thing about international tournaments is that, though it is a matter of pride to put on the national team’s colours and perform well for one’s country, there is also the inevitable audition that players unwittingly give on the global stage. Clubs all over the world have their scouts on high-alert as they try to zero-in on potential candidates who might fit their game plans and who might have gone unnoticed playing in other lesser known leagues. This scouting process is free and there are innumerable players who jump onto the radar of clubs who might have had reservations about some players as they played in less competitive leagues, but are convinced by their performance on the global stage.
One such player to have leapt onto the radar of a couple of English Clubs is William Carvalho, after his impressive performances in Portugal’s Euro triumph where was a mainstay in their team, shielding the back-four with all his diligence and honest hard-work. The 24-year old has impressed in his 3-year stint at Sporting Lisbon, and it is understood he will be looking to continue his progress in a big European league. He has amazing discipline and has managed to develop his game further by adding a new dimension with his impressive passing but his foremost role is to break up play and convert them into attacks.
The shock Premier League champions will be making their debut in the UEFA Champions League along with trying to fight the tag of being a ‘one-season wonder’. They have successfully kept hold of Vardy but in what seems like a telling blow, have lost their lungs, brain and backbone of their midfield N’Golo Kante to Chelsea. Leicester signed Nampalys Mendy in a bid to form a partnership of the two as they embarked on a difficult and challenging season. But the departure of Kante understandably negated the development and the Foxes were visibly embarrassed by two European powerhouses PSG and Barcelona in the first-half of their respective matches in pre-season.
Leicester are currently fighting a battle to keep Mahrez from the clutches of Wenger but have to address the fact they were easily overrun in both the matches in which they played noteworthy opponents. Carvalho will shore up their midfield and his latest improvements as a player who can venture forward with the ball when required will help a much-needed balance in the centre of the field. A midfield duo of Carvalho and Mendy seems an enticing prospect and the Foxes will do well to go after the player who is reportedly open to a move and the English Premier League and Champions League football should prove to be an alluring factor in his decision making.
