I remember watching the vibrant Alexis Sanchez tearing teams apart at times for Arsenal. He was never truly world-class, but he was a highly dangerous attacking player to opposition teams.
However, a switch to Manchester United in January of 2017 has turned into a nightmare. In fact, according to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are prepared to pay half of his massive £500,000 per-week salary to any team interested in signing the Chilean.
It seems unlikely that any other club would take on Sanchez’s massive wages, which is why the Red Devils would have to subsidise any likely move.
Has completely flopped at United
For years, Sanchez moaned about and at his teammates at Arsenal. He showed great individual talent at times, but he was never much of a team player. The fact that he seemingly wanted away from the north London club for a few years showed his lack of interest in the club he represented.
When Sanchez left the north London club, the Chilean was a big financial loss to the Gunners. However, towards the end of his Arsenal career, there were signs of decline in his performances.
His poor displays in the latter months of his Gunners career was attributed to the fact that he was unhappy at the north London club. However, his lacklustre displays have continued in Manchester.
Now it has got to the point where Sanchez is almost an after-thought when you consider United’s attacking players.
A major financial error from United
When United signed Sanchez with Henrik Mkhitaryan going the other way, it seemed like an ideal deal for both clubs. Both players wanted to leave their respective clubs and both were a similar age.
The fact that there was no fee involved was surely an attraction for United. However, the fact that they agreed to give an older player such a long contract for such a massive wage was a terrible financial decision.
I remember at the time Manchester City were favourites to sign the Chilean. Reportedly, though, the Citizens pulled out of the deal because they felt that Sanchez’s wages were excessive.
That reluctance to pay such wages is understandable from City. Most of the top players in the Premier League are not on wages anywhere near Sanchez’s, so his signing looks like a major financial error from the Red Devils.
Unlikely to have Champions League football next season
Getting Sanchez off the wage bill is just one of the major squad issues that United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to deal with this summer. The Red Devils need a squad overhaul, with so many players simply not good enough, including Sanchez.
The men from Manchester needs to attract a better class of player this summer. However, Champions League football is one of the carrots that the Red Devils are unlikely to be able to offer players for next season. United are currently odds of 10/1 to claim a top-four spot this season.
United signing Sanchez, and the way he has performed since his move to Old Trafford is indicative of the problems the Red Devils have faced in recent years. Sanchez is another overpaid player, who is simply not living up to expectations at the club.
There are far too many of them at United. However, it seems that the Chilean is one of the ones that the Red Devils are most keen to get off the major bill. It also seems that Arsenal were not that daft after all offloading Sanchez and his big wages.
United will need to take a huge financial hit to get the forward off the wage bill. Hopefully, for their sake, they learn a very important financial lesson from this fiasco.
Will anybody attempt to sign Alexis Sanchez this summer?
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
