Arsenal haven’t even submitted a proposal to sign Yannick Carrasco yet due to the financial restrictions on them in the January transfer window despite being made aware of his availability.

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Atletico Madrid’s Belgian forward Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (R) celebrates after scoring a goal next to Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann (C) and Atletico Madrid’s Spanish forward Fernando Torres (L) during the UEFA Champions League final football match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at San Siro Stadium in Milan, on May 28, 2016. / AFP / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / Getty Images

Sky Sports pundit and Belgian football expert Kristof Terreur spoke to the Transfer Talk Podcast last week about the possibility of his compatriot joining the Gunners in the current window. Though Terreur admitted that the 25-year-old has been offered to Arsenal, he added that it was going to be difficult for Arsenal to finance such a move.

“Arsenal are looking for a winger, but do not have the money to buy him,” Terreur said. “If they are considering to take him on loan, he will have to take a pay cut, because he earns around 180,000 euros a week. It’s a lot of money.

“It’s difficult for him to find a new club when he’s on big wages. I think that will run until the last days of the transfer window, where some clubs become desperate, and maybe Arsenal will be one.

“But at the moment, he has just been offered there, they have not made a proposal, so now there are no negotiations ongoing, but they have been made aware that he is available, and Unai Emery, of course, knows him from his period in Spain.”

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Unai Emery manager / head coach of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary's Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Unai Emery manager/head coach of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary’s Stadium on December 16, 2018, in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

This is certainly different from some of the reports knocking around recently. There have been claims that Arsenal are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign the winger, with his wife suggesting clubs like the Gunners and Manchester United are ‘very interested’. Rumours last week suggested Arsenal had held a ‘successful meeting’ with Carrasco’s agent.

Now, from the sounds of things, the truth is that Arsenal are yet to make any kind of proposal, and they most likely can’t afford to change that.

Why would Arsenal want Carrasco?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZT82WmOTkw

Carrasco had a good season in China, scoring seven and assisting nine in 26 appearances in all competitions.

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. 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 2.4 dribbles per 90 in the Premier League this season. Clearly, Carrasco would add something different. The Gunners just need to solve the small matter of not having the money to make an offer for him.