Sometimes, more often than you might think, greatness comes from a place of panic and disaster. Creativity and inspiration are forged in the fires of limitation.
Manchester United's limitation was time. With 36 hours left of the January transfer window and having thought that all their business was done, the club suddenly had to spring into action. Christian Eriksen, who has been so crucial to Erik ten Hag's transformation of the side, was ruled out for at least three months and would miss most of the season.
United were now low on options and low on quality in the middle. Fred has certainly enjoyed big games this season but remains too inconsistent to be relied upon. Scott McTominay has started once in the league since October. Donny van de Beek is injured. Kobbie Mainoo and Zidane Iqbal are young and inexperienced.
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A quick and quality solution was required and out of the hat United pulled Marcel Sabitzer, a quality midfielder who arrived on loan from Bayern Munich for the rest of the season. The German champions sought out Sabitzer and got him for a steal at £15million in 2021 from rivals RB Leipzig.
The Austrian was a pivotal part of the East German side's rise to prominence after becoming a member of the team in 2015 back when they were still in the second division. He eventually earned the captain's armband and Bayern came sniffing after he finished the season as his side's top goalscorer despite playing in a deep midfield role.
Sabitzer has enjoyed a strong 18 months in Munich and got a title to his name but the competition is incredibly strong, with Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich and Ryan Gravenberch all ahead of him in the pecking order. That doesn't mean he isn't a great player and in just three games at United, he has proven as much with some all-action displays.
It's still early days but the initial signs point towards his addition being yet another excellent and shrewd signing by Ten Hag, so much so that the loss of Eriksen hasn't had nearly as rough an impact as it could have done. As is always inevitable whenever a loan signing turns out good, talk has already turned to making the switch a permanent one.
There is no option to buy in the deal for United but according to recent reports from Sport Bild Bayern would be willing to sell Sabitzer for just €20m. In today's market that is an absolute steal and if that is the genuine price it's a no-brainer for United to make him their first signing of the summer.
Even with Eriksen back from injury and 100 per cent fit, United still need to add another midfielder. They could have done with one for the whole campaign as the quality in depth isn't there. Casemiro and Eriksen are brilliant but after that, the level drops considerably. The panic when Casemiro has been suspended or when Eriksen was first poleaxed by Andy Carroll pays testament to that.
Ten Hag may have his eyes on more ambitious targets - Frenkie de Jong or Jude Bellingham perhaps - but if Sabitzer is already used to his methods and is comfortable in the team why not just bring him back? It would be one less summer signing in need of time to acclimatise.
Crucially, it would also free up time and budget for United's much more pressing concern in the market. A quality striker must absolutely be signed in the summer. No ifs, buts or maybes. One was needed last year and though they have managed to do brilliantly with what's at hand you can't help but wonder if United would be even higher up the table if they had an elite-level striker leading the line.
United should still be astounded by the progress Ten Hag has made but expectations will rise next season and if they are to be achieved a striker, one that is likely going to cost a whole lot of money, must be signed. Bringing in Sabitzer to solve another issue on the cheap and with minimum fuss will only help that goal.
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