According to reports in The Mirror, Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho has not given up hope that he could yet join West Ham United despite the poor relationship between the two clubs.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that the Portugal international is still keen on a move to the London Stadium having seen a potential deal fail to happen during the summer transfer window, and Irons boss Slaven Bilic is keen to partner him alongside Cheikhou Kouyate in the middle of the park.

The Mirror says that West Ham should reignite their move for the 25-year-old in January, but adds that the east London outfit and their owners David Sullivan and David Gold may have to bury the hatchet with Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho in order to do so.

The report adds that the fall-out between the two clubs saw the Hammers threaten to sue the Portuguese team, while Sporting were threatening to report them to FIFA over an alleged illegal approach.

How would signing Carvalho help the team?

While West Ham were much improved in their 2-0 win against Huddersfield Town on Monday night, it doesn’t completely paper over their poor start to the campaign on the road which saw them lose all three of their away matches.

The Irons lacked real strength and power in the middle of the park in those defeats against Manchester United, Southampton and Newcastle United, and it would certainly be a different story for the Bilic if he had Carvalho alongside Kouyate in central midfield.

The duo would bolster the spine of the team and provide a barrier in front of what has been a leaky backline up until the victory against the Terriers, and would make the east London outfit much more difficult to break down when they are on their travels.

Could a deal really still happen?

It’s difficult to say.

The fall-out between the two clubs has got a little nasty and it remains to be seen whether each of the owners would still be willing to do business with each other.

That said, if Bilic wants the player and the player wants to leave Sporting Lisbon, money talks at the end of the day and if West Ham are the highest bidders they will likely get their man.

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