Alexis Sanchez Guaranteed FA Cup Start, Manchester United Target Chelsea Ace Willian

RICHARD TANNER

Alexis Sanchez will be on one of the first names on Jose Mourinho’s team-sheet for Saturday’s FA Cup final – thanks to his remarkable Wembley record.

The Chile striker has struggled to find his best form for Manchester United since his January move from Arsenal. He has scored only three goals but one of them was the equaliser in the 2-1 semi-final win over Tottenham which made it eight goals in just six appearances at the national stadium.

Sanchez’s run started with a brace for Chile against England in November 2013. The following season, his first with Arsenal, he scored twice in their FA cup semi-final win over Reading and netted the second in the 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the final. Then, in 2016-17, he scored in the Gunners semi-final win over Manchester City before grabbing the first in their victory over Chelsea in the final.

He maintained the hot streak with his most telling contribution for United so far, the headed equaliser against Spurs last month as well as the pass that set up Ander Herrera for the winner.

“Playing at Wembley brings me a lot of luck,” he said. “The reality is the change [of clubs] has been very, very difficult for me. I arrived at a big club and I changed everything from before.

“The coach told me he doesn’t like to sign players in January and it would take time for me to become accustomed to the new players. But I hope we can go on and win the FA Cup.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United are closing in on Brazilian targets Willian – who they will face at Wembley – and Fred ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window tomorrow.

They are understood to have already have sounded out winger Willian’s representatives about a possible move to Old Trafford while midfielder Fred has confirmed he is ready to quit Shakhtar Donetsk to move to the Premier League with United favourites to sign him.

Fred said: “I have made it clear to Shakhtar that I want to make a bigger leap in my career.

“There are clubs interested in England and France. As soon as a I come back from the World Cup we will sit down, talk and look at the options.”

Willian will be one of the 137 players whose names will be inscribed on the Nike ball for Saturday’s final – the FA’s “Ball for All” which celebrates players from level six of the football pyramid through to the Premier League who have scored in this season’s competition.