Arsenal: Play the long game with Yannick Carrasco

Dalian Yifang have suspended Yannick Carrasco as the Belgian tries to force a move to Europe. If Arsenal play the long game, the price will fall.

Yannick Carrasco wants a move to Europe. After moving to Chinese club Dalian Yifang 18 months ago, the former Atletico Madrid winger saw his role in the Belgian national team diminish. At just 25, there is still the chance to achieve success at the highest level and Carrasco seems ready to return West once again.

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And he is ostensibly willing to go to extreme lengths to force through an exit. This week, Dalian Yifang suspended Carrasco after the Belgian star did not return from international duty earlier this summer. He missed a match and training ‘for no reason’. A club statement read:

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"“Dalian Yifang’s player, Carrasco, was absent from the game against Hebei China Fortune and missed training for no reason. The club now imposes the following punishment on him: ordered Carrasco to make a return to the team within three days. The club imposes fines and suspension from training.”"

Clearly, the Chinese club is not happy with Carrasco.

The friction stems from interest from Arsenal, who Carrasco clearly would like to join given his past actions. A deal has stalled, however, with the Gunners unable to thrash out a fair price with Dalian Yifang, £30 million mentioned as what it would take to prise away from one of the formerly most touted young stars.

Arsenal are rumoured to be standing firm at a much lower price, potentially in the region of £20 million. There were also suggestions that they may prefer a loan or a loan with an option to buy as they attempt to make transfers in an explosive modern market under severe financial restrictions. Dalian Yifang want £30 million and they want it now.

There is clearly an impasse here. If a deal is to be completed, a compromise will have to be made, likely with one of the two clubs folding under the negotiating pressure. So, given the current behaviour of Carrasco, it might well be Dalian Yifang who are forced to bow and lower their price, whether they like it or not.

For they Gunners, if they are willing to be patient with Carrasco, which they should be if they do indeed want to sign him, all they have to do is play the long game, hope that the relationship between club and players erodes over the summer, and then pounce later in the window as time runs down and Dalian Yifang grow desperate.

In the modern game, the players have the power. Carrasco is exercising his here, and Arsenal may just end up the beneficiaries.