Man Utd: Pundit gives opinion on Woodward backing Solskjaer
Manchester United supremo Ed Woodward has reportedly contacted Atletico Madrid over a transfer deal for Thomas Lemar. But, by going after the France international, the Red Devils risk making the same mistake they did with Alexis Sanchez in January 2018. Signing a player woefully out of form seldom works well - and United must learn their lesson.
Back in January 2018, it was common knowledge that Sanchez wanted to leave Arsenal.
The Chile international had come close to joining Manchester City the previous summer, with Pep Guardiola trying to pull off a sensational swap deal involving Raheem Sterling.
And City were widely expected to land Sanchez this time around, with Guardiola’s interest in the forward he managed at Barcelona failing to subside.
However, in a dramatic twist, United ended up swooping in.
Woodward, seeing the pound signs and social media interactions such a transfer would bring, decided to pitch a huge offer to Sanchez.
And the 31-year-old couldn’t say no, choosing to move to Old Trafford rather than the Etihad and snubbing Guardiola in the process.
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However, that didn’t stop United from going for him anyway. They thought form was temporary and class was permanent, investing a huge amount in the forward.
But, over two years on, that transfer deal is viewed as a mistake.
Woodward knows it, with the United chief particularly sad at how Sanchez’s 18 months at the club played out before his loan exit in the summer.
The Chilean found the net just five times throughout his nightmare spell before being offloaded in the summer.
And, now, news of United reaching out to Atletico about Lemar suggests they may be about to make a similar mistake.
The same summer where Sanchez looked likely to join City, Lemar appeared set to join Arsenal.