Manchester United urged to raid Arsenal for Alexis Sanchez

Manchester United should sign Arsenal talisman Alexis Sanchez in order to give the whole Old Trafford squad a lift, according to Ryan Giggs. Sanchez, 28, has just one year left on his deal at the Emirates Stadium and is expected to leave the club in the summer, although talks over a new contract between him and the Gunners are scheduled to take place at the end of the season.

The Chile international, who was touted for a move to Chelsea for £50m ($65m) last month, has been in fine form for Arsene Wenger's men this season, scoring 27 goals and providing 13 assists in all competitions, but has made no bones about his desire to compete for titles.

While both Manchester United and Arsenal seem some way off seriously competing for the Premier League, Giggs, a serial title winner during his playing career, wants his former side to do all they can to lure Sanchez to Old Trafford and believes the forward can replicate Zlatan Ibrahimovic by providing a telling influence on his potential Manchester United teammates.

"[Sanchez is] a brilliant player," the Manchester United legend was quoted as saying by The Express. "His work rate, the effect he has on his teammates, he is a winner. He just looks how South Americans are, tough aren't they."

"Jose Mourinho bought Ibrahimovic because he is a winner. He'd won everywhere he'd gone. Not only the effect on the pitch but off the pitch as well. You can just feel that Sanchez would give his teammates a lift."

Giggs may be a firm advocate of Sanchez moving to Manchester United, but there is not a chance that Arsenal would agree to a deal with the Red Devils. The days of selling the likes of Robin van Persie to domestic rivals are seemingly over for Arsenal, who will hope to keep their dimming Champions League hopes alive with a win over already relegated Sunderland on Tuesday evening (16 May).