Yannick Carrasco’s wife might have confirmed that Arsenal and Manchester United are “very interested” in her husband, but his wages are causing Arsenal a bit of a problem.

Yannick Carrasco 2
MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 15: Yannick Carrasco of Atletico de Madrid reacts during the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and CA Osasuna at Vicente Calderon Stadium on April 15, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

It had been reported that the 25-year-old was willing to take a paycut to return to Europe from China but a report from Italy, where the player is wanted by AC Milan, claims he may not drop his demands enough for Arsenal. [Read here why Arsenal have no money]

To this end, there has been an apparent ‘slowdown’ in Arsenal’s interest and the suggestion that if he does not reduce his demands, Arsenal will bow out of the race.

Carrasco currently plays for Dalian Yifang in the Chinese Super League after moving from Atletico Madrid last February for a fee of £27m. Reports in Italy claim that the player would like to be coached by Emery.

The left winger – a position Arsenal are actively trying to fill – scored 23 goals with 17 assists in 124 games for Atletico Madrid. With Dalian Yifang he has seven goals and nine assists in 26 appearances.

Still only 25, he is about to hit his prime and a Sky Sports report, picked up in Italy, claims that “…the future of Yannick Carrasco could be in the Premier League. In fact, there was already a first contact between the leaders of the Gunners, which would be the preferred destination of the player of Dalian Yifang.”

Another report from Italy states, “Carrasco would like to be coached by Basque technician Unai Emery, the Gunners solution becomes almost a priority for his future.”

His contract currently runs until 2021 and it is not clear what he would cost Arsenal should they move for him.

His current market value is, however, in the region of £18m.