Alexis Sanchez

[King Binny]

SIR ALEX FERGUSON is trying to hijack Manchester City's move for Udinese hitman Alexis Sanchez.

The Chile forward is on the Manchester United boss's radar as he prepares to make changes to his squad this summer.

City have put down a marker for the £20million forward, but rivals United are also interested in him.

Sanchez, 22, is quitting Udinese at the end of the season with the Premier League his most likely destination. City are offering him £1.5m a year after tax and that kind of money is well within United's budget.

United's move for another forward will put Michael Owen's future in doubt.

Fergie has an option to keep the former Liverpool and Newcastle hitman at the club for another year and has always been impressed with the striker's attitude.

Sanchez, however, has been outstanding for Udinese and has played a major role in their bid for a Champions League spot.

He plays as either a winger or main striker and that versatility is perfect for United's rotation system.

City remain confident they will sign the Chile forward to bolster a front line that is likely to be without the departing Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor for next season.

Roberto Mancini's scouts have been tracking Sanchez for several months and believed they were in pole position to land him.

But the chance to star for United could still sway the South American.

 

[red_maradona]

we should make this guy a priority, pace crossing, goals - he would add much and make carroll even more effective.

 

[King Binny]

City chief executive Garry Cook made the trip to Italy on Sunday for Udinese's 2-1 victory over Lazio, stoking the rumour mill the Sky Blues are tracking the likes of Chilean attacker Alexis Sanchez, a current European transfer favourite at the moment.

"I have not talked with anyone at City," Larini told calciomercato.it.

"Their presence doesn't surprise me because big clubs have come to watch our players all season.

"We have many players who are attracting attention, such as Sanchez, [Pablo] Armero, [Mauricio] Isla, [Gokhan] Inler, [Kwadwo] Asamoah and [Samir] Handanovic.

"Will we sell big players? Nothing has been decided yet. We will wait until the end of the season before making any decision."

 

[King Binny]

Unable to speak Italian, cross a ball or keep his mind away from transfer talk, Alexis Sanchez still emerged as a Serie A star.

If one player can encapsulate the unpredictability of the 2010-11 season and epitomise the turnaround at Udinese then it is Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean international went from the very edge of the first team squad to becoming a defining €35m-valued cog in Francesco Guidolin’s re-energised Zebrette set-up.

Accused of lacking commitment both on the pitch as a player unable to offer a valid attacking contribution or communicate in Italian with his teammates and Coach, and away from it by refusing to rule out a January switch, it took Guidolin’s intervention to fix everything at once.

Although with natural pace and athleticism combined with a comfort on the ball and ability in one-on-one situations often recognised in wingers, it was rarely backed up with a final product by the Chilean. Sanchez’ inability to pick out a ball into the area proved frustrating, and often saw him check back rather than attempt a cross. With the side mirroring his struggles, Sanchez was dropped by Week 4.

During the October international break, Sanchez publicly refused to rule out a January move. His Coach, however, had a different idea in mind for the then 21-year-old, playing him in two behind-closed-doors friendlies, specifically working on two formations, the 3-4-3 and 3-4-1-2. As well as this, Guidolin had choice suggestions for the No 7. They were tactical – to switch to a central attacking midfield position and develop off-the-ball runs – and advisory – to work on his language skills and improve his work-rate to assist teammates more effectively on the pitch.

Sanchez was then reinstated to the team, becoming its fourth trequartista of the campaign, in a 3-4-1-2 shape for Week 7’s trip to Brescia. Whilst the team was still grasping the finer details – failing to register dominate possession in a game until Week 11 – results were otherwise positive, and so was Sanchez’ contribution.

Comfortable in possession and seeing a lot more of it, Sanchez has since been able to not only draw markers in that he has then been able to beat, but his positional shift has also unearthed a previously unseen range of passing. Where unable to pick out players in crowded penalty areas, the No 7 has instead revelled in playing wing-backs and strike-partner Antonio Di Natale into open space, as well as charging defenders down with direct running. Such has been his influence, by Week 13, Guidolin was able to drop a striker and line up a 3-5-1-1 with Sanchez pulling the strings.

Tactically, the youngster has proven disorganising to defend against. Able to provide short-sharp passing under pressure – indeed in stark contrast to his crossing – the Zebrette have been able to flood opposition penalty areas. Where teams have pressed a high defensive line to prevent this, Sanchez’ ability to distribute balls over the top has then countered, with his own pace also representing a counter-attacking danger.

Statistically, 28 starts since Week 7’s switch to trequartista have returned 12 goals and six assists, better than his previous two seasons at the club combined, whilst he has been consistently marked at 7 and 7.5 by Gazzetta dello Sport’s pagelle.

Where a majority of Serie A teams boast technically-proficient, fast full-backs brought up on how to defend like-for-like opponents, Sanchez’ switch to the middle has highlighted how few centre-backs and defensive midfielders are as comfortable. Beyond this however has been the player’s capability and opportunism through the season to strike up a keen understanding with his teammates and fully deserve the now persistent transfer rumours naming him as a multi-million-euro man.

Where he goes to ensure his potential is fully realised may be the most important step in his career, but the decision arrives off the back of one of the most intriguing and blistering breakthroughs in recent years in Serie A, and one that makes him Football Italia’s attacker of the season.

 

[MaBigTip]

I though he was pretty good as a winger for Chile, but if he really can't cross the ball well I'm happy we are going to be priced out.

 

[Judge Jules]

Indeed. Considering that the other "wingers" with whom we've mainly been linked are Marveaux (who doesn't stay wide, and is a stretcher case anyway), Young (who's apparently now off to the Mancs) and Downing (who's not good enough to be our main wide man, though I'd take him as back-up), I can only hope we have other plans nobody knows about yet.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=43417.msg1243383#msg1243383 date=1294239073]
was he the one who handballed on the line to stop a certain goal?

dirty sanchez!
[/quote]

Excuse me?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Manchester City coach Attilio Lombardo has revealed that the club are ready to give up on their chase for Alexis Sanchez.

City have already lodged an offer for Sanchez, but Italian giants Inter Milan and Juventus are also in talks with Udinese.

Udinese would seemingly rather take City's cash, but the indications from Italy have been that the player would prefer to remain in Serie A at this point.

The 22-year-old Chilean is rated as one of the finest young forwards in world football, but City feel he looks set to stay in Italy.

"It's true we did track Sanchez, but I think this player is more suited to an Italian club right now," City coach Lombardo told Radio Crc in his homeland.

 

[King Binny]

Alexis Sanchez’s agent has confirmed negotiations with Manchester City, but could meet United as well. “We’ll have new talks today.”

The Udinese starlet is the hottest property on the European transfer market this summer and rated at a minimum of €35m.

Among those interested are Barcelona, Inter, Juventus, Napoli, Real Madrid, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs.

“Sanchez’s future is still wide open,” agent Felicevich told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We are working on it. After the meeting with Manchester City, we’ll have new talks today.”

It is widely reported the next club that will make a proposal is Manchester United, who have been tracking the Chilean for over a year.

The bidding war has only just begun and El Nino Maravilla is set to remain in the headlines all summer.

 

[mark1975]

Spain please.

 

[Home and A Gay]

How many wingers do them fuckbags want.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

He wants to stay in Italy by all accounts with Inter leading the chase.

 

[King Binny]

“Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United and two Italian clubs have made offers for Alexis Sanchez,” said an Udinese consultant.

It is well known the Chilean is hot property on the transfer market and the subject of a bidding war worth at least €35m.

“There are five clubs who are doing everything to get hold of him: Barcelona, Manchester City, United and two Italian clubs,” Udinese consultant Stefano Antonelli told Sky Sport Italia.

“The offers have all come from these clubs. We don’t want to create a bidding war, but he is the big name on the transfer market at the moment and everyone wants him.

“Over the next few days we should learn where Sanchez will go. We wanted to keep hold of the player, but when there is an important offer, it should be evaluated fully.”

It is widely believed the two Italian clubs in the race are Juventus and Inter, but he is thought to be closest to Barcelona.

“All the clubs we talked about have a chance of signing him, but right now my feeling is that he’s more likely to go abroad.

“Barcelona’s very powerful push on to the scene has changed the scenario somewhat.”

 

[zlatan18]

He will sign for inter if Bielsa joins

 

[ILD]

[quote author=zlatan18 link=topic=43417.msg1350410#msg1350410 date=1308233927]
He will sign for inter if Bielsa joins
[/quote]

It would make sense. Hope this happens. I don't want him coming to England to improve a rival team.

 

[Ossi]

I´d luv us to sign him!! If not I really hope he stays the fuck out of the EPL.

 

[RedStar]

Top player alright, one of the most exciting wingers in the game at the moment but in terms of destination its difficult to say, Barca seem to be favourites but I cant really see how he would fit into that team, their style is build around ball retention and incisive passing which is not his strong point but then maybe Pep feels they need another dimension to their play, who knows.

I think Utd are just getting their name in there to make it look like they are chasing top talent with Barca and Real to appease the fans but I cannot see them spending 30 million on a position that they have covered, especially as they are already committed to spending nearly 60 million already this summer on Jones Young and DeGea

If Utd do go for a big name player it will be a central midfielder and given Fergies record Id say the odds are far more likely he will be taking Modric off Spurs than Sneijder from Inter, the last time Fergie went all in on a player from the continent was Veron and he got his fingers burned on that, since then he has reserved his big money moves for premiership proven players so I dont think Sanchez or Sneijder will be rocking up to Old Trafford any time soon, not unless they get lost on their way to the Eastlands

 

[Roopy]

I'm not sure if he will go to Barca.

I'm not sure Barca need him either.

Guiseppe Rossi should be the one that goes to Barca, and will command a pretty high fee one would assume.

 

[RedStar]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=43417.msg1350703#msg1350703 date=1308291494]
I'm not sure if he will go to Barca.

I'm not sure Barca need him either.

Guiseppe Rossi should be the one that goes to Barca, and will command a pretty high fee one would assume.
[/quote]

Utd must be gutted they let him go so cheap, and Pique for that matter. The pair of them were sold for about the same fee we are asking for N'gog somebody fucked up big time there

 

[Roopy]

[quote author=zlatan18 link=topic=43417.msg1350410#msg1350410 date=1308233927]
He will sign for inter if Bielsa joins
[/quote]

Latest rumours today link Viola manager Sinisa Mihajlovic to Inter.

 

[RolandG]

[quote author=Roopy link=topic=43417.msg1350821#msg1350821 date=1308302425]
[quote author=zlatan18 link=topic=43417.msg1350410#msg1350410 date=1308233927]
He will sign for inter if Bielsa joins
[/quote]

Latest rumours today link Viola manager Sinisa Mihajlovic to Inter.
[/quote]
and Bielsa to Villa Real

 

[Judge Jules]

[quote author=RedStar link=topic=43417.msg1350702#msg1350702 date=1308290602]
Top player alright, one of the most exciting wingers in the game at the moment but in terms of destination its difficult to say, Barca seem to be favourites but I cant really see how he would fit into that team, their style is build around ball retention and incisive passing which is not his strong point but then maybe Pep feels they need another dimension to their play, who knows.

I think Utd are just getting their name in there to make it look like they are chasing top talent with Barca and Real to appease the fans but I cannot see them spending 30 million on a position that they have covered, especially as they are already committed to spending nearly 60 million already this summer on Jones Young and DeGea

If Utd do go for a big name player it will be a central midfielder and given Fergies record Id say the odds are far more likely he will be taking Modric off Spurs than Sneijder from Inter, the last time Fergie went all in on a player from the continent was Veron and he got his fingers burned on that, since then he has reserved his big money moves for premiership proven players so I dont think Sanchez or Sneijder will be rocking up to Old Trafford any time soon, not unless they get lost on their way to the Eastlands
[/quote]

I hope you're right about Sanchez and especially Sneijder, mate, but Modric looks nailed on for the Chavs now.

 

[RedStar]

Yeah he does but there is nothing agreed so i expected his 'boyhood dream' could change before the summer is over, Chelsea in the driving seat for Modric though

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Rumors flying that he signs for Barca on Monday

 

[Y1]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=43417.msg1351656#msg1351656 date=1308450994]
Rumors flying that he signs for Barca on Monday
[/quote]

yay if true. at least man u doesnt get him

 

[RedStar]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=43417.msg1351656#msg1351656 date=1308450994]
Rumors flying that he signs for Barca on Monday
[/quote]

They have bid for Rossi too according to his agent, surely that means David Villa is available, I could see him going to City to like up with his old mate Silva, and trouser about 250k a week in the processs

 

[RedZeppelin]

man i am so out of touch , i've not even heard of this lad . He any good ?

 

[Roopy]

[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=43417.msg1351656#msg1351656 date=1308450994]
Rumors flying that he signs for Barca on Monday
[/quote]

Yup, Sanchez to Barca for 39M

Eto'o & Tevez to be swapped also by Inter & City.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

[quote author=RedStar link=topic=43417.msg1351705#msg1351705 date=1308476435]
[quote author=LeTallecWiz link=topic=43417.msg1351656#msg1351656 date=1308450994]
Rumors flying that he signs for Barca on Monday
[/quote]

They have bid for Rossi too according to his agent, surely that means David Villa is available, I could see him going to City to like up with his old mate Silva, and trouser about 250k a week in the processs
[/quote]

I don't think they'll sell Villa ...

 

[The Slugmonster]

33 million move to barca agreed apparently.

They dont fucking need him! They should loan him to us for 3 years!!