Yannick Carrasco has opened the door to a potential summer switch to Arsenal, with the Belgium international looking to return to Europe from China in the next transfer window. The 25-year-old forward linked up with Dalian Yifang in February 2018 , with Carrasco opting to leave Atletico Madrid behind and take on a new challenge on a lucrative contract. A little over 12 months on from making that move, he is now eager to retrace his steps. Interest from Arsenal was mooted in January, with Unai Emery seeking to bring more attacking spark to Emirates Stadium. It could be that the Gunners turn to Carrasco again once the 2018-19 campaign comes to a close, with the winger now actively seeking a new club. Arsenal are unlikely to be the only side in the market for a proven performer, and someone who has made more than 100 appearances for both Monaco and Atletico. Carrasco has told HLN of his future plans: “I would love to return to Europe. A lot of clubs were interested in me. “We tried to find a solution in January that would enable me to leave Dalian Yifang. “But I can understand the club's thinking. They wanted me to stay.” Carrasco penned a contract with Dalian Yifang through to 2022. It is, however, looking increasingly unlikely that he will see that agreement out. He is seeking another transfer because he wants to find more competitive football and force his way back into the international team, having lost his regular place in the starting XI. “I still feel OK in China. But I have lost my starting place in the Belgian national side,” added Carrasco. “This can happen with a team of their quality. “With the level of competition there will always be times when you don't get to play a lot.” Carrasco stepped off the bench for Belgium in their recent 2-0 victory over Cyprus which saw them ensure that their Euro 2020 qualification campaign has been opened with back-to-back successes.

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson has explained the breach of club discipline which saw him dropped by loan employers Hoffenheim. The 19-year-old forward, who was included on the Goal NxGn list of most exciting teenagers on the planet, has enjoyed a productive time in Germany. There have been a few dips, with fitness issues and a language barrier forcing him to learn quickly, but six goals have been recorded in the Bundesliga. Nelson is hoping there are more to come, having returned to favour after being removed from the plans of Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann as an “educational measure”. The man held in high regard by those back at Emirates Stadium has sought to shed some light on why he was unceremoniously dumped, telling reporters ahead of a potential outing for England’s Under-21 side against Germany on Tuesday: “I was late to training, I was 20 minutes late, and that’s something I need to learn from. “You can make mistakes but it’s your job and you shouldn’t be late. “I held my hand up and I said sorry to him and we both moved on as bigger men. He put me in the squad the next week because I’d been doing well.” Nelson is expected to build on his time in Germany, with Rio Ferdinand among those to suggest that he could be among the next crop of young talent to earn senior England recognition. For now, the Gunners starlet is happy in the U21 set-up and looking to take important lessons from what has been an eye-opening experience at Hoffenheim. He added: “I’ve been out there for 10 months by myself. “It’s not been easy and I haven’t had my mum or my brother about. I’ve got to do my own shopping, I haven’t got many friends out there but it’s my job and I’m there to play football. “When I do come back I do like to go out with my friends and see family because in Germany I’m on a mission. I do like to enjoy myself when I’m back but that’s normal for a guy my age. “I don’t get homesick but my family are very good, they’ll fly straight over and my brother will come and stay for a month and my mum will come over any time I ask her.”

With Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi making their mark on the senior international stage with England, Rio Ferdinand wants to see Phil Foden and Reiss Nelson become the next to break through. The Three Lions are displaying commendable faith in youngsters after seeing their youth teams star over recent years. World Cup triumphs have been enjoyed at U17 and U20 level, with key men from those successful sides now forcing their way into Gareth Southgate’s plans. Borussia Dortmund winger Sancho and Chelsea forward Hudson-Odoi have brought exciting skill sets to the England fold, while 20-year-old midfielder Declan Rice made his bow in a 5-0 Euro 2020 qualification win over the Czech Republic. Marcus Rashford, Dele Alli, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Ben Chilwell are all 22 years of age or younger and part of Southgate’s future plans. There is also the promise of more potential pushing its way into the reckoning, with Manchester City academy graduate Foden and Arsenal starlet Nelson among those staking serious claims to selections. Former England defender Ferdinand wants to see talent such as that recognised in the near future, telling The Sun: “As well as Hudson-Odoi and Sancho, I want to see Phil Foden play. "Everyone’s talking about him. Same with Reiss Nelson.” Foden is seeing regular football at Premier League champions City this season, while Nelson has impressed during a loan spell at Bundesliga side Hoffenheim. Both men are being tipped for big things, with Foden figuring prominently in the Goal NxGn list of the finest young talent on the planet. Their potential is expected to be unlocked by club and country, with England in the fortunate position of boasting considerable strength in depth. Ferdinand admits these are exciting times for the Three Lions, with the class of 2019 considered to be the most promising that a success-starved nation have had to work with in some time. “Yeah, because of the youngsters,” Ferdinand added when asked if the future is bright. “Southgate gets it, the excitement and pride it gives to fans to see young players in their team. "There’s huge potential there.” England will be back in action on Monday when they take in a trip to Montenegro. After that qualifier has been completed, attention can then switch to the pursuit of silverware. Southgate’s side have reached the semi-finals of the Nations League, where they will face the Netherlands on June 6, with sights being set on a final showdown with either Portugal or Switzerland.

Ryan Giggs has revealed the intensity of Manchester United's rivalry with Arsenal led to him irrationally detesting several players from their arch nemesis. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger went head-to-head for the biggest honours in the game during a memorable managerial duel following the Frenchman's arrival in England in October 1996. But in the 1998-99 campaign United claimed a Premier League FA Cup double, before adding the Champions League after a dramatic win over Bayern Munich at Camp Nou. Victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final replay at Villa Park triggered United's run to the treble, with Giggs netting arguably the most important goal with a fine dash through the entire North Londoners' defence. The normally calm and considered Giggs admits he had to adopt an entirely different persona when faced with Wenger's side and had a particular hatred for four opposition players - including some members of The Invincibles squad. "I didn’t like Arsenal," Giggs told the Daily Mail. "I didn’t like Vieira ’cos he was dirty and got away with murder. I didn’t like Petit because he had long hair. I didn’t like Bergkamp. "I didn’t like Pires even though when you meet him now he’s actually dead nice. I wouldn’t even look at them, didn’t know them and didn’t want to. I wouldn’t allow myself to rate any of them. "Bergkamp? Nah, I told myself he wasn’t as good as Eric Cantona. I wasn’t really that kind of person. "It wasn’t really me. But you had to get that in your head, that intense dislike. It was pure motivation. "But deep down we knew. They were top drawer and that rivalry was everything to us. Deeper even than Liverpool at that time." Though the '99 final against Bayern remains one of Giggs's finest achievements as a professional, it was a largely frustrating night for the winger who started the game out of position on the right. Roy Keane and Paul Scholes's suspension forced Ferguson into a reshuffle, with David Beckham moved centrally and Jesper Blomqvist deployed in Giggs's favoured position on the left. Despite a frustrating evening until Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's late goals the current Wales manager maintains he always believed a comeback was possible. "There is a bit of me — and I don’t think I have said this before — that felt I should have been playing centre mid," he added. "It was between me and Becks and I felt I could have affected it more. I was a little bit, 'I am in the wrong position here'. But that’s no excuse. We knew we could make history or fail and with 10 minutes to go I just thought it was gone. Nightmare. "I always used to say that we would get one chance but in that one we were that bad there was just nothing. I was definitely drifting off a little bit in my mind. I knew I would have to face my mates and I wondered if I would ever be there again."

Aaron Ramsey will miss Wales' opening Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia on Sunday after failing to recover from injury. The 28-year-old – who has signed a pre-contract agreement to join Juventus at the end of the season – has withdrawn from the squad and returned to his club for treatment. Ramsey played no part in The Dragons' 1-0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday. Wales manager Ryan Giggs said: "It's a blow, especially the form he's been in, but it gives a chance for somebody else. "We made sure we had a plan B and we've worked on that during the week. We're going to miss someone like Aaron, but we've prepared for it as well." Ramsey will hope to return to full fitness for the Gunners' next game against Newcastle United in the Premier League on April 1. The Gunners midfielder was among a host of big names rested for the Trinidad and Tobago match, with Gareth Bale, Ben Davies and Joe Allen all amongst those rested by Giggs. Despite toiling to victory, the manager will be confident he made the right choice by leaving Ramsey in particular out for that match-up as he and his charges prepare for Sunday. "We've got players minutes who needed it, a lot of lads who weren't even on the bench are fresh," Giggs said after the clash. "Slovakia are playing on Thursday, and it's not a given but we wanted to use that advantage. Going into the game fresh, with a win, there's a lot to be pleased about. "I thought there was some really good stuff. We've only had a few days to work on stuff and some of it paid off. "Second half I think the lads tired, which you can understand, and credit to Trinidad and Tobago they just sat in their shape and waited to counter-attack. "But we kept going and got our reward in the end. We had our luck a little bit with Gunter clearing it off the line but I told the lads if we kept a clean sheet we'd always have a chance."