Analysis

Arsenal favorites to land Yannick Carrasco

By Utsav Mehta

Posted on January 9, 2019

Arsenal have been looking to sign up a left winger this summer who could help them pull up their sleeves and get a spot in the Champions League. While the Gunners are most likely to sign the 25-year-old Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez who has already played under Unai Emery during his time at Sevilla, recent reports suggest that the London side has also approached Yannick Carrasco.

The former Atletico Madrid midfielder who China playing for a club Dalian Yifang, a Chinese Super League side that the Belgian international had joined last February. The left winger’s move to China was a bolt from the blue as only 25, he chose a league where the European players perform in their 30’s. Carrasco did not seem to have settled in the country and seems to have wanting a return to Europe.

Carrasco has had a decent run, both in Atletico Madrid and also in China playing for Dalian Yifang, with 17 goals in 81 appearances for Spain’s capital and 7 goals already in the Chinese Premier League, having played 25 matches. The experience that Carrasco possess is surely more than Arsenal’s potential target Denis Suarez but not enough to take Emery’s eye away from his student.

Carrasco is also linked with another English Premier League club which is Manchester United who are in search of a winger who could strengthen their squad and the Italian giants AC Milan are also looking to make a bid for the midfielder in a view of making their Italian season better.

But reports of Sky Sports Italia suggest that Manchester United and AC Milan are only keeping a tab on the winger, it is the Emirates side that is in regular contact with the Belgian international. More so, the player has given his approval to play for the club and is ready to quit his Chinese wage of £170,000 per week. With Gunners now favourite to sign the winger and rumors of Suarez taking a confirmation shape, it is likely that United may get a hand on Carrasco if Emery has his preferred man.

Nevertheless, a transfer is inevitable as Danny Welback is out till the end of this season and with Aaron Ramsey leaving the club, a winger will be brought in by the club. Only thing uncertain is who? Carrasco (although a rarity) or Denis Suarez (almost a probability).