Sanchez wants Javier Hernandez as a Gunner

ARSENAL dynamo Alexis Sanchez has requested that Arsenal bring former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez back to England, while the Gunners will go up against Fiorentina for Anderlecht’s Andy Najar.

According to Spanish outlet Don Balon, Sanchez has been impressed with Hernandez’s form at Bayer Leverkusen and “has asked boss Arsene Wenger” to sign the Bundesliga ace (h/t Metro’s George Bellshaw).

Hernandez is in the form of his career and has netted 19 goals in his first 22 games for Bayer Leverkusen after completing an £8 million move from Old Trafford over the summer.

The Mexico international’s career-best tally for goals in one season was the 21 he bagged for Guadalajara back in 2009-10, but he’s well on track to eclipse that figure this term.

The Gunners could sign the striker but wouldn’t be able to register Hernandez as a player until next season, considering he’s already played for Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen this term.

Article 5.3 of FIFA’s regulations on the status and transfers of players prevents anyone from representing more than two clubs in a season.

Former Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa found out about that ruling the hard way after he completed a move to Nice last January, only to be prevented from playing for the club. Per the Guardian’s Jamie Jackson, the law states:
“Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs.”

Hernandez played in one Premier League fixture and two Champions League qualifiers for United before joining Leverkusen and so wouldn’t be able to link up with Sanchez until the summer.

Olivier Giroud was dropped from the Arsenal XI in favour of Theo Walcott earlier this season, but the Frenchman has hit good form again.