Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is prepared to let winger Yannick Carrasco leave the club next month, reports Spanish publication AS.
The Belgian has started just five league matches this season and is eager to secure regular game time ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Simeone is willing to allow three players to leave the club in January, with Luciano Vietto and Nicolas Gaitan among those who would be allowed to depart Madrid when the transfer window opens.
Rumours of Carrasco’s availability would certainly put a number of Premier League suitors on red alert, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all linked with a move for the 24-year-old in the past.
Bayern Munich have also previously been linked with a move for the former Monaco man and could renew their interest in the wideman should Atletico allow him to depart for pastures new.
Yannick Carrasco: Of players to register at least 500 minutes of La Liga action, only Lionel Messi (5.6) is completing more dribbles per 90 than Carrasco (4.2) this season
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) December 28, 2017
Full player stats -- https://t.co/w0KljJ6KDN pic.twitter.com/dhUmR60v8N
Despite a lack of regular game time, a return of 4.2 successful dribbles per 90 is second only to Lionel Messi (5.6) of players to have registered at least 500 minutes of La Liga action this season.
"Key man" - played 295 out of previous 1260 minutes, 0 goals and 1 assist for the past three months.
@hindy You don't agree that he's been important previous seasons? The reason for his lack of play time appears to be a personal issue with Simeone.
@Ludo Look, his first season was an introduction to new teammates and new playing style, therefore it was OK, but not more than that. Last season Simeone told him to shoot more and results were amazing, but since that UCL final performance capped with a goal, Carrasco is half (or even less) a player he was last season. Surely injuries didn't help, but apart from Simeone he also fell out with Gabi, Koke and Profe Ortega. That's a shame, on his day he's unplayable but glaring inconsistency stopped him from really becoming a key player for Atleti.