5 ways Manchester United can line up with Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez got his wish. The tireless Chilean forward is off to Manchester, but instead of enlisting for a trophy run within the stacked squad of longstanding suitor City, he's joining Jose Mourinho at United.

After United's failed summer pursuit of Inter winger Ivan Perisic, it's feasible that Sanchez will play on the left side - as he did at Arsenal - but it remains to be seen how he fits into a team not short on wide talent, and what set-up will best suit the 29-year-old.

With Mourinho vacillating between formations as he sees fit, here's a look at the versions United has used this season, and what role Sanchez would play in each:

4-2-3-1: Ample service for Lukaku

Featured 17 times in the league this season, the 4-2-3-1 formation is the one most commonly used by Mourinho, the same scheme he opted for in winning the league with Chelsea. In support of Romelu Lukaku, Sanchez would line up on the left side of an attacking three - a role he's familiar with from his time in north London before Arsene Wenger's ethos was tainted by the momentary successes of a back-three.

United has played this formation both with Paul Pogba as a No. 10 and with the Frenchman deeper alongside Nemanja Matic, with the latter set-up laying a defensive onus on a player better suited for an advanced role. The odd men out here are Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, a common theme in the wake of Sanchez's arrival.

3-4-1-2: Two-headed monster

Employed on three occasions so far this season, the 3-4-1-2 would push Sanchez into an advanced position alongside Lukaku while placing a significant attacking responsibility on wing-backs Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia.

Again, Pogba can drop deep and play alongside Matic, as he did in the victory over Arsenal at the Emirates with Jesse Lingard playing the role of a central playmaker. Mourinho also opted for this set-up against both Tottenham and Chelsea in the league, indicating it's a scheme content with ceding possession in hopes of mitigating disaster. Sanchez would get to do a fair bit of running in this arrangement whilst playing the creator to Lukaku's finisher.

4-3-3: Double dipping

Arguably United's best formation in light of Sanchez's addition, the Red Devils can operate two different versions of the 4-3-3. The first (pictured above) allows Lukaku to be the focal point while Sanchez and Lingard would be tasked with service for the towering Belgian striker and link-up play with both Ander Herrera and Pogba. The latter would be given free rein to roam when in possession.

The second 4-3-3 would slot Sanchez into a No. 9 role, something he did a fair bit of for Arsenal during the 2016-17 campaign. Mimicking Liverpool's fluid front-three, Sanchez would play a versatile role similar to Roberto Firmino's. Meanwhile, Anthony Martial and Lingard can rotate organically with the Chilean international, with Martial and Sanchez the most likely to switch spots. Regardless of who fills out the 4-3-3, coupling Pogba with Matic and Herrera would allow the ornately coiffed Frenchman to roam dangerously into advanced positions.

3-4-2-1:

Mourinho has opted for a 3-4-2-1 just once this season in the league, but considering the 4-2 result at then in-form Watford - where a dazzling Ashley Young brace and Martial goal inside of 35 minutes cemented the tilt - it might be worth another try. A slight alteration from the 3-4-1-2 would see Sanchez drop deeper alongside Lingard.

Again, Sanchez may be the shiny new item in the shop window, but Pogba is the focal point. If the French midfield runner can be gifted the liberty to surge forward while Matic does the dirty work, it may serve Mourinho well to employ this set-up at home against inferior sides.

(Images courtesy: sharemytactics.com)