Arsenal have reportedly asked Yannick Carrasco to lower his wage demands significantly so they can sign him.

The 25-year-old player, who currently earns £180k-per-week in China, was reportedly willing to take a paycut to join Arsenal but it seems as if they still can’t find an agreement.

I picked up this report in Spain but it seems it stems from the Mirror. Thankfully, it isn’t John Cross so it might have some semblance of truth to it.

Along with Denis Suarez, Carassco has been Arsenal’s main transfer target according to large sections oft he press even though it was reported just 10 days ago that the club haven’t even submitted a proposal for the player.

On 13 January, I covered a report claiming Carassco’s wages were causing a problem and Jake Polden’s Mirror piece, dated 25 January, seems to add nothing new to those reports other than quotes from Lauren speculating that the player would need to lower his wages.

We know Arsenal are definitely interested in the player because his wife confirmed that both the Gunners and Manchester United want him.

[Read here why Arsenal have no money]

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, claimed 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.”

Arsenal want an initial loan deal for Carassco for reasons we are all only too familiar with. They hope to have the funds available in the summer to buy players outright.

Carrasco’s 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.