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Alexis Sanchez: Manchester United transfer highlights Aston Villa problems - Steve Bruce
STEVE BRUCE has used Alexis Sanchez’s move to Manchester United to highlight Aston Villa’s financial difficulties.
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce would love to have been in a position to sign Alexis Sanchez
Sanchez, 29, is on the brink of sealing a switch to Old Trafford from bitter rivals Arsenal in a swap deal including Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Villa, meanwhile, are unable to splash the cash due to Financial Fair Play restrictions.
Villans boss Bruce is looking in the loan barrel to strengthen his squad for their Championship promotion charge.
He has been open with fans about the lack of money the club has to spend and is aware of the sort of markets they can operate in.
Bruce told the Birmingham Mail: “With supporters, the one thing you can’t give them is any flannel, especially here.
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Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is operating in the loan market
We would all love to have been in a position where Aston Villa can sign Alexis Sanchez
“You have to be as truthful as you possibly can. That’s always been my philosophy.
“We would all love to have been in a position where Aston Villa can sign Alexis Sanchez and back in the day that might have been the case.
“It is what it is. I would love to sit here and say I have a big sackful of money to spent but we haven’t.
“We have to put our ducks in a row.
Alexis Sanchez is set to join Manchester United from Arsenal
“My job is to try to manage the two - the board and what they want back and also the club to make sure we compete as we are Aston Villa.
“Last week we played Nottingham Forest - they have won the European Cup twice but not being in the Premier League for 19 years.
“Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday are big clubs too but they’ve been out for a long time.”