What Would Alexis Sanchez Bring to Manchester United?

Alexis Sanchez has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, either in January or the summer, so there must be something special about the 21 year-old which has reportedly caught Sir Alex Ferguson's eye.

After watching him in action, it is clear to see that he is a tricky player on the wing. He has plenty of flicks and tricks up his sleeve, and at times can embarrass the opposing defenders. His explosive pace is also an element of his game which stands him out from the crowd, and with his small, 5 foot 6 frame, he is able to combine both his trickery and pace to run defenders ragged.

Players who have frightening pace and can also deliver an accurate cross are somewhat hard to come by nowadays. Walcott and Lennon are England's finest culprits at times, and I'm sure there are plenty more like them, but Sanchez has the raw ability to do both. His versatility is impressive, as he can work effectively on both wings as well as up front on his own - although his goalscoring has been called into question due to only 9 goals in 77 appearances for current club Udinese.

With Nani and Sanchez in the team, United would be in a great position when it comes to deliveries into the box and general creativity. However, they do also both have a tendency to go to ground and hold their legs in apparent agony - at times to easily - which is unfortunate, as diving is of course cheating, but the amount of free-kicks awarded to United would also be increased, therefore increasing set pieces and the chance of  goal. Antonio Valencia will be returning soon, so Ferguson would have competition for wide places - which should only be a healthy thing for a big club like United.

He is also a hard worker. He can track back on those wings as well as attack - making some good tackles and then sending his own team on the counter. He would be a useful player who would add depth to any team, but when you are nicknamed "the Wonder Boy", are named as one of the 50 most exciting players in world football, and are attracting interest from some of the best managers in the world, you must be pretty special.

The Chilean certainly has a good future ahead of him, but whether it will be at Manchester United after a £15 million move, we will have to wait and see.

Man United Scouting the "next Ronaldo" and the "next Ozil"

When Manchester United signed Anderson in 2007, he was tipped to be the "next Ronaldinho". 58 games, one goal, and a serious car crash later, and it looks as if the pressure of being compared to such a high calibre player may have gotten the better of this promising talent (although at the young age of 22, there is lots of time for him to improve). United will therefore be hoping that Alexis Sanchez and Ilkay Gundogan, of Udinese and FC Nurnburg respectively, will live up to the stars that they have been compared to, rather than being a bit of a disappointment.

The "next Ronaldo" is the first player I mentioned, Chilean 21 year old, Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez has fantastic dribbling ability at explosive pace, with excellent technique and an eye for goal, his attributes extend to his good crossing ability, as well as being able to play on either wing, and up front as a striker. His finishing may not be up to scratch, after having only scored 9 goals in 73 Udinese games, but when United bought Ronaldo in 2003 (admittedly younger than Sanchez) the Portuguese had only scored 3 goals in 25 appearances for Sporting Lisbon, so the Chilean winger could certainly improve at United.

The player’s agent Fernando Felicevich said in an interview:

“Yes they (Manchester United) are watching him, and it could be a possibility in the future.

“I have heard that another Premier League club also enquired, but they didn’t contact me. For the time being the only thing I have heard is from Manchester United."

So, there is definitive contact from Manchester United to the agent about the player. This isn't just a rumour.

The "next Mesut Ozil" is 20 year old German midfielder, Ilkay Gundogan. This is just a rumour, so don't get excited about how much truth it involves, but reportedly, United have been scouting the German, and he has "impressed" them. He scored twice in FC Nurnberg’s 3-2 win over Werder Bremen at the weekend and is valued at around £8m.

Manchester United were know admirers of the "real" Mesut Ozil in the summer, but Real Madrid - the team that seem interested in any player that Manchester United are also interested in, tempted the German to Spain. Now, Ferguson may be looking for a cheaper, younger option of a similar German player, and someone who can set his midfield alight.

Ferguson has recently been signing more youngsters than big name signings, maybe to start on his "new generation" of stars and legends to replace the likes of Scholes, Giggs and Neville, or maybe it's because the big money isn't there. However, exciting youngsters with flare and determination are always welcome at Manchester United, and these two players tick the boxes.