In a recent print edition, La Tercera stated that Aston Villa are among clubs hoping to sign Inter Milan forward Alexis Sanchez this summer. It is understood that the Villans could face competition from Barcelona, Olympique Marseille, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in pursuit of the Chile international.
Sanchez’s Decent Form In Italian Football Last Season
Sanchez had a decent campaign at San Siro after he put in a handful of influential displays as the focal point of Inter’s attack. The former Arsenal talent was involved in 39 matches for the Italian club last season, scoring nine goals and picking up five assists in all competitions.
The Chilean talent made most of his league appearances off the bench which explains why he only averaged 1.2 shots, 0.7 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in Serie A. Still, he deserves credit for being accurate with his link-up play in the final third based on his pass completion rate of 81.1% in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
Should Aston Villa Head Coach Steven Gerrard Snap Sanchez Up This Summer?
Sanchez excels at creating a yard of space for himself to get a few shots in on-target. He can still be a decent finisher in front of the opponent’s goal and is a technically gifted footballer. The Chilean talent has a got a high football IQ that helps him engineer some meaningful openings for others around him up top. He is primarily a centre-forward but can also function in the number ten position if required.
Therefore, Sanchez would be a great option for the Villans to consider in this off-season. The South American sensation has what it takes to add some much-needed firepower to Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard‘s attack.
At 33, Sanchez might still have a few good years left in his locker to play at a high level. Thus, he will be a good, short-term signing for the West Midlands club this summer. All in all, Gerrard would be wise to snap Sanchez up ahead of the new campaign as he could help his team push for a top-right finish in the Premier League.
