Arsenal have reportedly been priced out of a move for Dalian Yifang winger Yannick Carrasco.
The player's wife confirmed last week that the Gunners and Premier League rivals Manchester United have shown an interest in the Belgium international.
Carrasco is seeking a return to European football this month, just a year after arriving in the Far East from Atletico Madrid in a surprise transfer.
Belgian football expert Kristof Terreur claims that Dalian have offered Arsenal the chance to sign the 25-year-old, but the North London side are struggling to finance a move.
Arsenal will instead wait until later this year when fresh sponsorship agreements kick in before making a formal move, though they risk losing one of their attacking targets to a European rival.
United, meanwhile, are said to be prioritising defensive players in January and will not move for Carrasco.
