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Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to recall Alexis Sanchez as shock transfer plan emerges
Manchester United sent Old Trafford flop Alexis Sanchez on loan to Inter Milan in last summer's transfer window.
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Manchester United are planning to hand Alexis Sanchez a fresh start at Old Trafford with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set to try and reintegrate the Chilean into his Red Devils squad ahead of next season. Sanchez flopped after rocking up at United in January 2018 and was last summer farmed out on loan to Inter Milan after Ed Woodward failed to find a buyer for the club’s highest earner.
However, the Daily Star report United have informed Sanchez’s agents he won’t be allowed to join Inter on a permanent basis or head to any other club because they want to recall the 31-year-old and give him a second opportunity to prove he can make it in Manchester.
Sanchez - who would sooner stay in Serie A than return to the Premier League - will be part of United’s travelling party which goes on their pre-season tour, with Solskjaer eager to include him in his first-team plans.
United, who cannot recall Sanchez this month to help cope with Marcus Rashford's injury woe, will be well aware that his struggles while on loan at Inter have hardly made him a more attractive proposition for any would-be suitors.
While his stratospheric wages, which can reach £500,000 a week with bonuses factored in, mean only a handful of clubs could realistically afford him if they were inclined to make a move.
Solskjaer and United will now take a chance on Sanchez, who is under contract at Old Trafford until 2022 and may yet be sold on next year if round two of the experiment fails.
Sanchez scored just five goals in 45 appearances after leaving Arsenal for United in a swap deal which saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan head in the opposite direction two years ago.
The former Udinese and Barcelona star has registered one goal in seven appearances for Inter, although the first half of his campaign was marred by a tendon injury suffered back in October.
Following Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku’s departures, United have lacked a senior figure in attack this season and the Chile international’s availability would save Solskjaer from having to splash out on an experienced forward.
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Solskjaer risks upsetting members of his squad by welcoming Sanchez back into the fold, though, with the No 7 unpopular at Carrington having failed to win over his team-mates in the wake of his January 2018 arrival.
United are facing the prospect of a summer rebuilding job, with plenty of upheaval on the cards as Woodward and co. prepare to back Solskaer in the transfer market.
Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes, who looks increasingly likely to stay put this month, is top of Solskjaer’s wish list, which also includes Leicester’s James Maddison, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish and Ajax’s Donny van de Beek as options to inject some much-needed creativity into United’s midfield.
Express Sport understands the Norwegian likes the look of Lyon’s Moussa Dembele, RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho and Lille’s Boubakary Soumare as well.