Marcel Sabitzer was loaned in at Manchester United on January transfer deadline day for one reason - to cover for injuries.
"We’re really happy with that transfer because we need it after Donny [Van de Beek] dropped out [for the season], now Christian Eriksen for a longer time, and for a short time Scott McTominay is not available,” Erik ten Hag said upon the Austrian’s arrival.
The midfielder has done amply to a point where there is a state of flux about what should happen about his future at Old Trafford - he’s not played abysmally to warrant exit calls but neither has he pulled up trees to get United fans buzzing.
ALSO READ: United in discussions with Bayern after major Sabitzer injury blow
Even the player himself is not sure about his future, confirming earlier this month he had not spoken to parent club Bayern Munich since his departure. Yet more haziness has descended over his status as a United player following his season-ending knee injury.
The Manchester Evening News understands both United and Bayern are now in discussions over how to plan his rehabilitation with no decision made on a potential permanent switch.
Sabitzer has two years left on his deal with his German employers having started just seven Bundesliga matches before his January switch. In fact, he’s only started 20 games for them in all competitions since his arrival in August 2021.
It’s likely the decision over a permanent transfer rests with United but in truth, he is not the type of player United need. Ten Hag is after a new midfielder in the summer but fans would be left disappointed if that man was 29-year-old Sabitzer.
Furthermore, the Reds already have a man of similar profile in Fred. Since signing, Sabitzer has played 18 times, including 11 starts, and has bagged three goals and an assist.
In the same period, Fred has played 25 times with 13 starts and recorded four goals and two assists. It means Sabitzer has a goal contribution every 4.5 games with Fred’s at 4.16 - which probably denotes the narrow gap in quality between the two, but this is not the step up in quality United need going into next season.
It’s also worth noting that Fred has not been injured at all this season and has been included in every matchday squad, only failing to come off the bench on six occasions. Sabitzer will end his loan at United having missed eight matches through injury.
Both are thought to be worth the same amount of money too, with Transfrmarkt valuing them each at around £17m. Simply put, there is no point having both Fred and Sabitzer in the squad, it should be one or the other.
One line of argument suggests that, with Fred approaching the final 12 months of his contract, it may be worth selling the Brazilian to bring in Sabitzer to hold value within the squad.
But when it comes to long-term planning, doing so seems like kicking the can down the road when United would find themselves in the same situation with Sabitzer next year or two with a lengthy deal unlikely given his age and position.
Ten Hag made obvious forward steps last summer with Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez coming through the door. Antony will only improve, too.
As good an asset Sabitzer has been, he does not fit this profile and United must think more ambitiously if they are to get where they want to be in the rebuild project.
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