Sporting Lisbon are demanding cash up front to sell William Carvalho.
The Mirror says Arsenal have been told they will have to splash out at least £24million up front for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Carvalho.
Claims in Portugal that the Gunners have already made an offer for the defensive midfielder - but want to stagger the payments - were played down by the Londoners.
But Sporting, who have a buy-out clause in the player's contract of £35m, want any compromise fee up front.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a big admirer of 22-year-old Carvalho, who played for Portugal at this summer's World Cup finals.
