How Alexis Sanchez would fit in at Man United as club launch £25m bid

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  • Manchester United are in desperate need of reinforcements to challenge for silverware this season and have set their sights on Alexis Sanchez to do just that.

    Jose Mourinho has launched a £25m bid for the Arsenal contract rebel to hijack Manchester City‘s pursuit of the Chilean, according to reports.

    Although Pep Guardiola may already have the Premier League title wrapped up, the FA Cup and perhaps even the Champions League remains in sight for the Red Devils.

    Having struggled with a string of poor results in the league in December, Sanchez would add more firepower to the Old Trafford outfit’s attack.

    Here’s how the 29-year-old could fit in at United.

    ON THE FLANKS

    Out wide is where Sanchez has done his best work. His pace and trickery means he’s a nightmare for full-backs while his incredible work-rate will no doubt be welcomed by Mourinho who values industrious wide players.

    At Arsenal, he’s proved that his delivery into the box is excellent but it’s when he cuts inside from the left onto his stronger foot that he’s most dangerous but he’s comfortable playing from the right side as well.

    His close control and dribbling often sees him leave defenders in his wake as he goes on a driving run through the heart of the opposition’s defence.

    While his lethal sharp-shooting from range has been a hallmark of his prolific spell at Arsenal, his link-up play has really come to the fore as well, as has his movement in the final third.

    Sanchez is notorious for his clever diagonal runs in behind the full-back to go clean through on goal. He brings a level of consistency, experience and explosiveness from wide areas that United lack at the moment.

    AS A NUMBER 10

    The former Barcelona player has even featured as an attacking midfielder and given the poor form of Henrikh Mkhitaryan in particular, that’s a role he may well be asked to play.

    Typically, he isn’t thought of as a number 10 but he’s a far more creative and accomplished passer than he’s given credit for. With a big target man like Romelu Lukaku ahead of him as well, Sanchez is the ideal opportunist to play off him and feed of the scraps.

    You only have to look at the way he’s combined with Olivier Giroud in the last few seasons at Arsenal, playing one-twos and getting on the end of knock-downs.

    He would also bring plenty of energy into that central area of the pitch and if afforded space within range, he can be lethal. Playing as a number 10 also means that he’s always involved. While he can be a peripheral figure over periods in games when used out wide or up front, in this role he’s in the eye of the storm.

    United have often toiled to breakdown lesser oppositions this season but with Sanchez through the middle, his directness means that instead of finding that eye of the needle pass, a weaving run or pop at goal can make all the difference. He brings a different dimension to the position.

    STRIKER

    Arsene Wenger has often used the Chilean as a striker at Arsenal, sometimes much to the chagrin of Giroud or last summer’s big-money buy Alexandre Lacazette.

    But such is Sanchez’s overall quality that, in big games especially, it pays to have your best player on the end of the chances you create.

    Playing up front, he never allows the centre-backs a moment’s peace, running the channels, chasing down every lost cause and relentlessly closing down to stop them playing out from the back.

    His pace also makes him absolutely devastating on the counter-attack while he’s more than useful in the air despite his diminutive frame.

    Mourinho has experimented with playing Lukaku alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic a couple of times this season with little success but with Sanchez, the two-pronged attack is certainly a feasible option.

    On the other hand, he could even afford the Belgian some much needed rest by leading the line on his own.

    WHO HE WOULD REPLACE?

    Instead of just the one player, there are several players who could see their playing time cut down should United rope in Sanchez.

    Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial have alternated on the left flank. Sanchez’s arrival would see both players’ time in that position significantly lessened.

    Mkhitaryan is out of favour as it is with Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata being preferred instead and the Armenian could be set to fall even further down the pecking order.

    Lingard in particular has stepped up and been in fine form over the last month or so but it will be interesting to see how the Englishman would be accommodated if Sanchez walked through the Old Trafford doors.

    Out of favour: Henrikh Mkhitaryan

    Out of favour: Henrikh Mkhitaryan

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