Wages could prove biggest stumbling block in Arsenal’s pursuit of Carrasco

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Arsenal want to sign Dalian Yifang winger Yannick Carrasco to boost their wide options during the summer, according to the Daily Express.

They report that the Gunners made a deadline day swoop for the former Atletico Madrid wideman and even though that failed, they retain an interest in snaring him during the summer.

But they also say that the Belgian international’s current bumper wages out in China could stop him moving to north London as they would require him to take a major cut to come to the Emirates.

Carrasco reportedly earns £8.8m a year out in China right now and Arsenal cannot get anywhere near that, and Denis Suarez would take up a chunk of their budget if they made his loan from Barcelona permanent.

Arsenal need improvement in many areas – and with Alex Iwobi currently the only out and out winger on the club’s books, out wide is one of them.

But their budget would not apparently stretch to Carrasco’s wages, and tempting a player to give up that salary from China is a tough ask, especially with Arsenal’s Champions League hopes in the balance.

But Carrasco would be a major asset; at Atletico, he was a hard-working, rapid, industrious winger and that’s exactly what Unai Emery needs right now.