Arsenal held a meeting with Yannick Carrasco’s agent earlier this week, with a departure from Chinese club Dalian Yifang looking ‘increasingly likely’, according to reports.

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Atletico Madrid’s Belgian midfielder Yannick Carrasco (L) controls the ball in front of Bayern Munich’s Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between FC Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, southern Germany, on December 6, 2016. / AFP / GUENTER SCHIFFMANN / Getty Images

French outlet Foot Mercato (via GFFN) report that Arsenal held a meeting with Carrasco’s representatives on Tuesday, which apparently went very well. At this stage, it seems increasingly likely that the Belgian will leave China, and a bid for the winger is seemingly now ‘imminent’.

Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira reports that Dalian Yifang are already looking for a replacement for Carrasco, by trying to bring in Dimitri Payet of Olympique Marseille. Schira claims Arsenal are offering the Chinese club a loan deal with an option to buy at the end of the season, though Dalian Yifang prefer a permanent deal.

That’s consistent with the approach Arsenal are taking to a move for Denis Suarez. They seem keen, but only want the player on a loan deal with the option to pay later. Reportedly, the club are low on funds for this window, and they’d rather spend in the summer when money from the new sponsorship deals comes in.

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Yannick Carrasco playing for Belgium

Carrasco has had a good season in China, scoring seven and assisting nine in 26 appearances in all competitions. You’d expect nothing less from someone who was previously playing for a top European club.

Before leaving Atletico in the midway point of last season, the winger had four goals and seven assists from 1,459 minutes. That’s one goal contribution every 133 minutes, which is a more-than-solid record as well.

Carrasco’s best attribute is his dribbling though. With Dalian Yifang he completed 3.6 dribbles per 90 minutes in the league, with Atletico in 2017/18 it was 3.5 per 90.

Compare that to the current Arsenal squad, where no one has completed more than 2.1 dribbles per 90 in the Premier League this season. Clearly, Carrasco would add something different.