If money was not an issue, Arsenal may well be in the market for a former star.
The club has had its share of comebacks in recent years – with the likes of Thierry Henry, Jens Lehmann and Mathieu Flamini all returning to Emirates Stadium with varied success – but one homecoming in particular would surely be a profitable one for The Gunners.
Alexis Sanchez has endured a torrid time since switching to Manchester United in January 2018, having scored just five times following his Old Trafford move.
And with no progress being made on fulfilling his desire for top honours at United, a move back to Arsenal where he thrived as one of the league’s best goalscorers could be a positive solution for all parties – in a world where Arsenal would be willing to pay up, of course.
Given that Arsenal are not blessed with the financial power of the would-be sellers, the fact The Gunners sold him for free in a part-exchange deal would surely play an unwanted part in any hypothetical negotiations.
But considering what Sanchez has done for Chile in his short time away playing at the Copa America, it seems his on-pitch troubles are largely mental, and the environment where he was so successful in North London may be the only logical place for the player to rejuvenate his stalling career.
And with Arsenal low on wingers – and viable options to fill in for their two main strikers – a move for Sanchez would make sense on all fronts, without a transfer fee and wages providing large stumbling blocks for the relatively cash-strapped Gunners.
So while the prospect of such a comeback looks unlikely, it seems all the more gutting that such an outlet would do Arsenal the world of good – and he was only on the books a while ago, too.
It wouldn’t be simply the resurgence of Sanchez as a footballer that the Emirates faithful would be able to enjoy, but getting the best out of those he left behind would arguably be as big of a plus as the sight of him scoring in red and white once again.
His connection with Mesut Ozil really ought to have garnered more silverware than it did, and with the German’s powers seemingly on the wane too, it is almost as if Sanchez’s Arsenal departure signalled a diminishing effect in Ozil’s influence at the club without a natural partner to provide for.
Rekindling that partnership would give (or re-give) Arsenal a new dimension to an attack that was largely limited to the powers of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last season – who thankfully hit the ground running once Arsenal completely overhauled their frontline throughout the season before last.
Having those four on top form at the same time would provide Arsenal with quite the fearsome foursome – and spread the attacking contribution around the team more than in recent months.
But with it only being a pipe dream at this moment in time, Arsenal fans may be left with wondering what might have been, as their former star forward turns back the clock on international duty.
