The Dutchman wants to sign Sanchez this summer.
New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has identified £20m rated Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez as a transfer priority this summer, reports the Guardian.
Although the Red Devils are yet to make an official approach for the Chile international, it’s known that van Gaal is a big admirer of Sanchez and believes the 25-year-old would fit perfectly into his system.
The current Netherlands head coach likes to utilise a 4-3-3 formation with an emphasis in attack based on wingers – a style he initiated to great success at Bayern Munich with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.
Sanchez generally operates from the right flank, but signing the South American would mean van Gaal would have to sell at least two of United’s current attackers to accommodate the Barca star.
Attacking midfielders Nani, Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia and Shinji Kagawa, plus strikers Javier Hernández and Danny Welbeck, could find their positions at Old Trafford under threat.
Despite his relatively young age it’s Sanchez’s experience that most draws van Gaal, with the Chilean about to star at his second World Cup this summer and also having played significantly in the Champions League.
The forward’s career started in his home nation back in 2005, before enjoying success with Udinese in Serie A and River Plate in Argentina, before a 2011 transfer to the Nou Camp.
However, due to the plethora of talent available in Catalonia, Sanchez has grown frustrated at a lack of consistent first team action – although he did score 19 La Liga goals in 2013/14.
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