Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to land Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, a target for Chelsea.
According to Florian Plettenberg on Twitter, Premier League giants Manchester United are in the driving seat to secure the services of Austrian international Marcel Sabitzer. The 28-year-old is also a target for Chelsea.
The Bayern Munich midfielder is an excellent rotational player for Die Roten and has impressed whenever given an opportunity under Julian Nagelsmann. A central midfielder who is adept at both ends of the pitch, the 28-year-old has the ability and experience to make a telling difference at the top level.
It is exactly what Manchester United seek as they learn to live with Christian Eriksen’s long-term injury. The Danish ace was injured in the FA Cup clash against Reading and now faces three months on the sidelines.
❗️X News #Sabitzer: @ManUtd now in pole position to sign him! #CFC is still in but #MUFC are favorites now! Player has arrived the airport in Munich now! 🛫 @SkySportDE 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/o1zYVSLCMt
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 31, 2023
Alongside Casemiro, Eriksen has rekindled the flame in the Manchester United midfield and is a key cog in Erik ten Hag’s system. Fred and Scott McTominay, for all their effort, lack the quality needed to replicate the Dane’s performances on a weekly basis.
It is thus understandable that Manchester United are now in a rush to land Sabitzer before the January transfer window slams shut in a few hours. The Red Devils are alive in all four competitions and also stand an outside shot at challenging for the Premier League title.
Bringing in the right players mid-season could make all the difference, and Sabitzer is just that. An excellent ball carrier, he should slot into the Manchester United midfield with ease and help them maintain control in the middle of the park.
A move to Old Trafford is a win-win both for the club and the player. Manchester United will address their shortcoming, while Sabitzer will get the opportunity to enjoy regular first-team football. A player of his calibre is wasted on the bench at Bayern and could rekindle his reputation at the Theatre of Dreams.
The deal appears to be moving along swiftly, and there is every reason to believe that the Austrian will be a Red Devil come February 1. He is currently at the airport in Germany and looks set to jet into England soon.
However, it could easily be to join Chelsea, a club that has shown little restraint in the transfer market. A midfielder is on Todd Boehly’s agenda, and Sabitzer is the latest name on the lookout list. Moises Caicedo looks set to stay at Brighton while a deal for Enzo Fernandez is yet to be concluded. Sabitzer is more than a decent fall-back option should the need arise.
For now, the ball is in Manchester United’s court, and they look set to win the race. But football is a funny old game, and the January transfer window deadline day has more than one thrown-around a surprise.
