Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are reportedly ready to battle for the services of Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, who could be sold in the summer.
According to Sport BILD magazine (h/t iMiaSanMia), Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are interested in securing the signature of Marcel Sabitzer, who could be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena by Bayern Munich.
Sabitzer spent the early parts of his career in his homeland before joining RB Leipzig in 2014. The Austrian midfielder was loaned to sister club Red Bull Salzburg for a year before he came to Germany. The 28-year-old soon became a permanent fixture in the middle of the park for the Saxony-based outfit, helping them earn promotion to the Bundesliga and become a regular top-four side.
Sabitzer played an immense role in Leipzig’s rise in German football and gradually grew into one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga. It prompted Bayern Munich to invest in him in the summer of last year, as they reunited him with Julian Nagelsmann at the Allianz Arena.
However, the move has failed to work out as planned as Sabitzer has struggled to perform at the levels expected for Die Roten. Of his 29 appearances in all competitions this term, only seven have been starts in the German top-flight, indicating his status within the team. With Bayern Munich working to sign Ryan Gravenberch, Sabitzer will likely fall further down the pecking order.
Arsenal and Atlético Madrid are interested in Marcel Sabitzer. The midfielder is up for sale this summer. The same goes for players like Marc Roca, Bouna Sarr and Omar Richards [@altobelli13, @SPORTBILD] pic.twitter.com/o8PNnC0BTd
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) April 20, 2022
As a result, the German champions would be open to selling the Austrian international at the end of the season. This development has piqued the interest of Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, who are now considering launching a swoop for the Sabitzer.
Arsenal are on the lookout for a new all-action midfielder who can partner Thomas Partey in the centre of the park and provide cover when the Ghanaian is unavailable. Albert Sambi Lokonga has faded after a bright start to the season, while Mohamed Elneny’s contract expires in the summer. So, a new midfield signing is necessary at the Emirates come summer.
A move for Youri Tielemans has been spoken about for some time now. Arsenal have been linked with Wolves mainstay Ruben Neves, with Marcel Sabitzer also emerging as a target. However, they would have to battle reigning Spanish champions Atletico Madrid, who are also keen on the Austrian international.
Koke’s form has been on the wane of late, while Geoffrey Kondogbia is courting interest from the Premier League. It could force Atletico Madrid into the market for a new midfield addition. Sabitzer, thus, would be a viable target for Los Rojiblancos.
Sabitzer has a contract with Bayern Munich that runs until the summer of 2025. While they would be open to a sale, the Bavarian giants could still demand a significant fee for his services. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal or Atletico Madrid are willing to meet their valuation for the midfielder.
