Ryan Giggs: 'Manchester United will be lucky if they sign Alexis Sanchez'

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has acknowledged that his former club will be "lucky" to sign Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez in a cut-price deal.

Sanchez is allegedly close to completing a transfer to Old Trafford, with Arsenal being prepared to sell the Chilean international due to just six months remaining on his contract.

Giggs - who has been named as the new manager of Wales - has praised the ability of the attacker, and admits that he will represent an excellent addition to Jose Mourinho's squad should the transfer go through.

The 44-year-old told Sky Sports News: "Well Alexis Sanchez is a top player. Whoever gets him or whether he stays at Arsenal, they're lucky, because he's not only a goalscorer but he makes goals, he works hard.

"So whoever gets him will be a lucky team because he is a top, top player. It doesn't happen very often does it where you're running down your contract, you've only got six months to go and you're able to get a player relatively cheap in this environment.

"But it is what it is and like I said, whoever gets Alexis Sanchez will be extremely lucky."

Sanchez will allegedly wear the number seven shirt if United secure his signature during January.