Arsenal have been linked with an audacious bid for Atletico Madrid winger Yannick Ferreira Carrasco along with a host of Premier league clubs including United and Chelsea according to Spanish publication AS
The 23-year-old Belgian forward has scored 10 goals and created three assists from 24 appearances in all competitions this season for Diego Simeone’s side but reports suggest he has grown unsettled and the club may be willing to cash in on the player’s £85m release clause.
Having signed from AS Monaco in the summer of 2015 for a reported £17m, the 23-year-old attacker has established himself as one of Europe’s best wingers. He has completed 314 passes this season with a pass accuracy of 83%(as per WhoScored).
Having signed a contract extension in October which includes a £85m release clause, his future at Vincente Calderon is now up in the air after a breakdown in relations with Simeone.
Simeone has recently been quoted criticizing the Belgium attackers commitment to playing in positions he is not comfortable in by the Spanish media saying(translated from Spanish):
” Carrasco does not like to play there ”
“we are looking for people who feel the need and ambition to do harm on that side “
Carrasco has also recently gone on to change his personal trainer against the wishes of the club and his defensive contributions have also been questioned by the manager in recent times with Jaunfran being preferred in his position recently.
Having been hailed by Simeone as someone to have matured into a man and someone who is a “complete player”, it certainly comes as a surprise hearing news about their breakdown in the relationship.
Here’s what he had to say about the Belgium international back in October:
“Some of them came here as boys, matured personally and professionally here, and became men – like Griezmann or Carrasco,”
“He is a very complete player, with great potential, he wants to improve and he listens, he scores goals, beats people with the ball.”
With Chelsea, United and PSG having been linked previously, the Gunners are the latest to be linked to the forward and this latest link has a high chance of becoming one of those innumerable reports linking all the top rated players with a move to the Emirates and none arriving in reality.
Carrasco is very, very similar to Chamberlain on his play on the right flank except for the pace which the Englishman contains a great reserve of. The Belgian has repeatedly proved to be a menacing, goalscoring threat around the opposition penalty area and is quite adept in dribbling and providing key passes from the wings something which the Ox has shown flashes of but is yet to replicate on a constant basis. His arrival will prove to be quite an upgrade on our present ranks.
That all being said with Wenger having basically ruled out making any sort of acquisition this window barring the occasion addition to the academy and the youth ranks it would almost become a biblical event if a January purchase of £85m were to actually take place.
One thing we can hope for is for the deal to come to fruition during the Summer when such a classy acquisition might just prove to be what we have been lacking this year.
Here’s to seeing him in Arsenal colors next season
Till then COYG !!!!
