West Ham target Alexis ‘keen’ to emulate Irons legend Andy Carroll

West Ham United target Alexis Sanchez says he wants to follow in the footsteps of club legend Andy Carroll should a summer move to the London Stadium materialise.

After yet another magnificent season in the treatment room, the 31-year-old Chilean international is hoping he can secure a move to East London following a recommendation from West Ham legend Carroll.

Having spent some of the best years of his career on the sidelines with The Hammers, the Geordie striker gave a glowing reference to fellow crock Sanchez last month.

‘Andy said the medical facilities at the Olympic stadium are absolutely world-class’, revealed the Inter Milan loanee. ‘He told me about the squad of physios they have there and said they’re great group of lads to work with, very professional’.

Carroll spent seven glorious injury-ravaged seasons in East London, averaging a total of 1.5 injuries every 3 games for The Irons. The legendary striker returned to boyhood team Newcastle United in summer of 2019 where he previously set a club record of 38 Jager Bombs in under 15 minutes.

But the 31-year-old hot prospect enjoyed his stint on West Ham’s treatment table so much, he just had to share the experience with his Chilean counterpart. Manchester United forward Sanchez is keen for a new challenge after a frustrating few seasons with the Old Trafford club.

But the former Arsenal hitman has vowed to bounce back and cites one particularly horrific injury as the main reason for his recent struggles. It was while playing for The Gunners in a game against Leicester in 2017 that Sanchez sustained the injury which he claims almost ended his career.

‘I remember standing near the touchline when I heard the sickening thud’, recalls the Chilean. ‘That’s when I realised, I’d been struck in the mouth with a throw in. When I got back to the changing room and saw how fat my lip was, I feared my career might be over’.

Upon returning to the changing room, Sanchez uploaded a selfie to Instagram showing the full extent of the injury which led to an outpouring of grief from football fans across the globe. But having fought his way back from a fat lip, the former Udinese striker believes he ready to show West Ham fans ‘the real Alexis’.

‘Growing up in Chile, I always wanted to play for West Ham’, said Sanchez with a straight face. ‘I hope I can give the club as much value for money as Manchester United got’, he added, referring to the £65M Ed Woodward has paid him in wages so far.