Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has encouraged Jose Mourinho to make a move for Alexis Sanchez when the transfer window reopens.
It wasn’t that long ago when Sir Alex Ferguson raided the Emirates Stadium to take Robin van Persie, in a transfer which angered Arsenal fans as much as it delighted the United supporters. Even at £24million this went down as a shrewd piece of business for the Manchester club, who went on to win the title the following season with the Dutch ace scoring 26 times in the process.
Giggs, the most decorated player in United’s history, is now suggesting Mourinho should take a similar route and lure Sanchez from the Gunners. The Chilean international is widely tipped to leave the capital club in the summer, when he will be down to the final 12 months of his contract, and he’s not short of admirers after a season in which he has scored 21 times in the league.
“He’s a brilliant player,” said Giggs about Sanchez. “His work rate, the effect he has on his team-mates, a winner. Jose Mourinho bought Zlatan Ibrahimovic because he is a winner. He’d won everywhere he’d gone. Not only the effect on the pitch but off the pitch as well. You can just feel that Sanchez would give his team-mates a lift. It gives not only the fans a lift, but the players.”
Arsene Wenger remains hopeful of persuading Sanchez to sign a new contract at Arsenal, but it is understood the 28-year-old has become increasingly frustrated at their inability to make a lasting bid for a first league title since 2004. If he makes it clear he will not extend this stay, though, his current employers are likely to look for overseas interest rather than sell to a rival.
