Marcel Sabitzer's loan spell at Manchester United officially ended overnight but Paul Scholes has already suggested that the Austrian may have a permanent role to play.
Sabitzer and fellow January loanee Wout Weghorst had their profiles removed from the club website as Friday turned to Saturday, but United manager Erik ten Hag is keeping his options open with regards to the the former's future. The club have left the door ever so slightly ajar by deciding against explicit goodbyes, while the new kit can be bought with the Austrian's name and number on it.
A knee injury effectively cut Sabitzer's loan spell short, with the 29-year-old missing the final five games of the season. But three goals in 18 appearances was reflective of a steady, if not outstanding, few months at Old Trafford.
Reports have suggested that parent club Bayern Munich would be willing to offload Sabitzer for as little as €15million (£12.8m), and speaking back in April, Scholes suggested the midfielder could be an important option. Fellow former Red Owen Hargreaves was first to give his opinion on BT sport, labelling the versatile player as a 'good squad player'.
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"I think you summed it up perfectly, he might be a squad player," Scholes added. "He would be one who comes into them bigger games. We had people like Darren Fletcher and John O’Shea who went into midfield - proper athletes, absolutely brilliant coming into them games, getting against people.
"You’d worry about Eriksen and Fernandes in them situations but someone like Sabitzer you can rely on."
Mason Mount's imminent arrival will reduce the likelihood of Sabitzer's deal being made permanent after a £60million fee was agreed with Chelsea earlier this week. The 24-year-old is due for a medical once he returns from holiday, with Ten Hag filling one of his priority positions early doors.
The Dutchman is set to redeploy focus elsewhere once that deal is finalised, with a new goalkeeper and a world-class No.9 next on the summer shopping list.
