Manchester United have completed the signing of Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season.
It’s understood that United moved quickly for the Austria midfielder over the last 24 hours after it became emerged that Christian Eriksen would be out until early May with an ankle injury.
Donny van der Beek has already been ruled out for the rest of the season following knee surgery and Scott McTominay for two weeks with a muscle problem.
Sabitzer was identified as the best available option, having made 443 career club appearances across Europe – including 54 since joining FC Bayern from RB Leipzig.
The 28-year-old was keen to make the move and flew to Manchester from Germany on Tuesday to undergo a medical.
United filed the deal sheet by the 11pm deadline and completed his loan move by midnight. Overall, the whole process is said to have taken 12 hours.
‘Sometimes in life you have to make quick and important decisions,’ said Sabitzer. ‘From the moment I heard about this opportunity I knew it was right for me. I am a competitive player; I want to win and help the club achieve its aims this season.
‘I feel that I am at my peak as a player, and that I can contribute a lot of experience and energy to the squad. I’m excited to start with my new teammates and manager and to show my qualities to Manchester United fans.’
United’s main priority in this transfer window was to sign a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, and they achieved their aim by bringing in Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley.
However, two more deals were forced upon them. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka’s return to Newcastle meant Jack Butland was brought in from Crystal Palace, and then Eriksen’s injury – sustained in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Reading – prompted the club to look for a new midfielder and Sabitzer was well known to the scouting department.