Man United to welcome back Alexis Sanchez as club look to fill financial black hole
Alexis Sanchez could make an unlikely return to Old Trafford as Man United attempt to fix their current financial woes.
Anthony Martial is set to join another new club a year on from leaving the Theatre of Dreams, but it is the former Arsenal winger who could make a surprise return to Manchester later this season.
Currently, the club are in a very difficult financial situation, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe feeling the pressure after having to relieve several hundred members of staff from their roles at Old Trafford.
Man United have been tipped to sell their women’s team, much like Chelsea, in an attempt to raise funds, and that is likely needed more than ever after a very pricey summer transfer window.
Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko all arrived on big-money deals, while several high-profile players left the building in an attempt to balance the books.
Man United set to introduce midweek friendlies for financial gain
Now, according to The Sun (11 September), the Red Devils could prepare mid-season friendlies against the likes of RB Leipzig, Lazio, AC Milan, and Sevilla, who have just signed Sanchez six years after leaving United.
This comes after United missed out on £100million in prize money, having lost the Europa League final, and therefore, missing out on European qualification after finishing 15th in the Premier League.
In three separate international breaks, there are eight days between Premier League fixtures, leaving enough time for semi-competitive friendlies to prepare the squad for higher-quality football.
The aforementioned clubs all failed to secure European football for the 2025-26 campaign as well.
How much did Man United spend during the summer transfer window?
Including the aforementioned deals for Sesko, Mbeumo, and Cunha, the Red Devils spent close to £200million in what was an eye-watering transfer window for football fans.
Liverpool broke the British transfer record twice, signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen before Alexander Isak left Newcastle United for Anfield after an entire saga at St James’ Park.
Of course, several players found new homes. Marcus Rashford joined Barcelona on loan, Jadon Sancho went to Aston Villa for the season, and Antony finally sealed a permanent move away.
In business terms, this idea appears to be a good idea, but with players already concerned by the number of games being played this season, it could raise red flags amongst those actually playing the games.