The transfer saga that won’t go away, our Man United fans here in the Transfer Tavern a buzzing with the latest rumour of Alexis Sanchez being lured to Old Trafford next season
A will he, won’t he transfer window was the story everyone was talking about this year. Alexis Sanchez decided to stay with the Gunners despite a last-minute £50m move by Manchester City on transfer deadline day, one that failed miserable.
Potentially going on a pre-contract in January, Sanchez must have a host of suitors waiting with contracts in hand come January first.
Manchester City, Chelsea and now seemingly Manchester United are the running favourites amongst our punters to capture the Chilean forward signature.
The chance to snatch Sanchez from under their neighbours noses would be a major coup for the Red Devils and would really add some quality to an already luxurious squad.
Our landlord was discussing with some of the bar stalwarts what could Sanchez bring to Old Trafford that they haven’t already got?
Man United fans what do you think of these pros and cons.
Pro #1: Goals
Sanchez was in amongst the goals last season for Arsenal, his flair and ability to run at defenders and shoot out of nowhere can frighten even the meanest of defences.
To add to a strike force of Lukaku and Ibrahimovic, who aren’t shy themselves when it comes to sticking the ball in the back of the net would see United with terrifying options to score from any area of the pitch.
Con #1: Attitude
In recent seasons we’ve seen the best and worst of Sanchez’s attitude, if things aren’t going the way he likes he has a tendency to throw his toys out of the pram. Maybe the settled mentality of Arsenal rubs up Sanchez’s will to win mind-set the wrong way.
With a manager like Mourinho, any kind of attitude can have you banished to the subs bench or worse training on your own. With a club of United calibre, competition for places is high. He may not be a regular starter, would that sit well with him?
Pro #2: Flexibility
Sanchez can play anywhere along the front line. From left to right he looks at home, this would suit Mourinho’s style of interlinking players during the match and swapping formations to suit the game.
Most deadliest cutting in from the left, they’d be a healthy competition for places with Rashford and Martial but he could also provide cover for Mkhitaryan on the right. Thirty goals last season with directly playing up front show how dangerous he can be.
Con #2: Places in the Team
With Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial both starting the season with fire in their boots, Alexis Sanchez’s preferred left side postion would mean these two young and talented players would either be missing out or having to playing in another position in order to get first team minutes.
Sanchez is at home on the left, centre or right hand side of the final third, this means someone’s going to miss out. With the United side looking and playing like it is, it’s hard to see who.
