Paul Merson gives his verdict on Alexis Sanchez return to Manchester United

Paul Merson believes, Alexis Sanchez could still have a successful future at Manchester United. Sanchez is currently on a loan spell at Inter Milan. The Chilean has been a destructive signing for the Red Devils, arriving from Arsenal in January 2018. He contributed just five goals in 45 appearances in all competitions as he struggled with injuries and consistency. He is unlikely to return to Manchester United next season but Merson feels he could develop a new attitude after the coronavirus crisis. "With what’s currently going on, I can’t see a team going out and spending £100m on a player anymore," Merson told Sky Sports. "Teams are going to have to stick with what they’ve got so Manchester United keeping hold of Alexis Sanchez and bringing him back into the fold would come as no surprise. The other options would be to go and find a replacement and they would have to spend £60m or £70m to do it. I just don’t think clubs are going to do that anymore, and actually, I don’t think people care. "The clubs can’t ask the government to pay the wages of their staff and then once this has passed, and hopefully it will, go and spend £60m, £70m and even £80m on players. That’s taking the mick at the highest level! For that reason, I can understand Sanchez coming back to play a part at Old Trafford because, on his day, he is a great player. "After this, people are going to appreciate things a lot more now – and that includes some of the footballers who get bundles of money and think they can just stroll through. Sanchez was one of those players, but I think he will probably now think this life goes very quickly, especially a football career. "Players might start to appreciate that more and he could come back, work hard and be a success because you can’t go from being that good at Arsenal to be that bad at Manchester United, you just can’t. "It’s definitely a better United than the one he left too. They were flying before the suspension of the league. They’ve had some excellent performances and some brilliant results so that will benefit him too. ‘He’s got to come back and appreciate he’s at one of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the biggest. There is logic in Sanchez going back at Old Trafford, he’s a top player and if they can get even half the player he was at Barcelona and Arsenal back, he’ll be an asset." Source: Metro

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