Sancho Panza!

Sancho Panza is a fictional character in the novel Don Quixote written by Spanish author Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605, so while on the subject of fiction it seems appropriate to mention that, according to 'media' sources, West Ham United have been in contact with Alexis Sánchez’s agent Fernando Felicevich as they consider a potential move this summer.

Sánchez is currently on loan with Italian side Inter Milan, having been loaned out by Manchester United last summer, he has struggled in Italy, though, with injuries limiting him to just 15 appearances in all competitions and just one goal and three assists to date. According to FC Inter News, they are not keen on keeping him in any capacity beyond this summer, mostly because of his disappointing performances but also because his €12 Million a year wages are ‘unthinkable’ for Antonio Conte’s side.

It is not Sanchez's fault that he was handed such a ludicrous deal by Manchester United to 'prise' him away from Arsenal, however any person with more than a couple of brain cells could see the folly of the transfer. Ironically, the make weight in the deal, Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who moved in the opposite direction, proved to be a much better bit of business for Arsenal, serving them well during his continued tenure with the club.

Would David Moyes be willing to sign Sanchez? Yes is the answer, however before you choke on your cuppa, the caveat would be that West Ham would only be prepared to pay a similar percentage of Sanchez's wages as Sporting Kansas City in the MLS are currently paying of Winston Reid's, ie: 15%. That still represents around £75,000 per week, but at that price it might be worth a punt.

Why would Manchester United sanction loaning Sanchez to the Irons, particularly at such a low cost? Quite simply he is a dead weight, no one in their right mind would pay him the wages he is on at Old Trafford, so unless they are going to play him in the first team in order to put him in the shop window, the only other option is to loan him out domestically is to a team not considered as rivals, hence the 'supposed' interest from West Ham.

If Manuel Pellegrini was still in charge then the Sanchez deal could have had legs on it due to the Chilean connection, but it is highly unlikely the current board would even give more than a cursory glance in his direction, but then again, stranger things have happened in the past. - Ed Jnr