Manchester United are confident of completing the loan signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer before tonight's transfer deadline.
Austria international Sabitzer, 28, has been identified as a short-term option to offset the absence of Christian Eriksen, who is sidelined for three months with an ankle injury.
United have until 11pm to recruit Sabitzer, who played against United in the Champions League group stage with RB Leipzig in 2020, until the end of the season.
Read more: Ten Hag gives Man Utd deadline day update on possible incomings and outgoings
Sabitzer joined Bayern in 2021 and has made 15 appearances in the Bundesliga this season; seven of them starts.
Sources have previously told the Manchester Evening News United have tools to "push a button" and provide a list of options to sign for a position.
The injury to Eriksen prompted United to make late enquiries for a midfielder on loan as they currently have only two senior midfielders available.
Scott McTominay missed the weekend win over Reading through injury and Donny van de Beek has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
"As you said, on deadline day it's difficult, you can't make policy on such bad injuries," United manager Erik ten Hag said on Tuesday afternoon. "But we have players in the midfield department. Good players. We have players who can fill the gap."
Casemiro and Fred are the only regular midfielders currently available to Ten Hag ahead of eight games in 26 days in February.
Academy graduates Kobbie Mainoo, 17, and Zidane Iqbal, 19, are the alternative midfielders who have been involved with the first team this season.
Ten Hag wants to permanently sign a younger midfielder in the summer and is open to a second pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, whom United agreed an €85m fee for in the summer.
United have also not ruled out another attempt to sign Jude Bellingham three years after he opted to join Borussia Dortmund.
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