Our Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern are buzzing with the news that United have joined the race with local rivals City for the signature of Alexis Sanchez.

Sanchez looked all but certain to join Man City this window according to our bar staff, and with the late bid in the summer window being rejected, it seemed inevitable the Citizens would tie up the deal this winter. However, it seems their cross-city neighbours had other ideas.

United have, out of nowhere, joined the race for his signature and reportedly added Henrikh Mkhitaryan into the mix as a very attractive makeweight in order to sweeten the deal for the Gunners.

Jose Mourinho will have to pull out all the stops in order to get this one over the line as Guardiola looks to reunite ties with the Chilean at the Etihad. Many of our long-time regulars have been discussing why Sanchez should choose the red half of Manchester over the blue half, with our landlord insisting it’s down to these two reasons why Sanchez will continue to be wearing red come February…

More Game Time

While City seems the more attractive package available to Sanchez at the moment, the Etihad is packed to the rafters with attacking talent, so much so, that City legend Sergio Aguero is obviously disgruntled at the lack of regular game-time under Guardiola.

With him and Sanchez being of the same age, it’s hard to see how Guardiola will be able to give the Chilean attacker the minutes he wants. However, with Jesus currently out injured it ups the demand to bring him in but what happens when the Brazilian comes back, will that leave Sanchez warming the bench with Aguero?

Play in his Preferred Position

With United in desperate need of a left winger, Sanchez fits the bill perfectly which allows both Martial and Rashford to move into their own preferred position of paying down the middle. Indeed, this will add a little extra flow to United’s team and more importantly many of our punters feel it’ll bring balance to what seems to be an incomplete squad at the moment.

Sanchez thrives on isolating the right back and cutting inside to his favoured right foot, this would be a perfect role for both parties to play going forward.