Manchester United are close to finalising the signing of Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season with the Austrian at Carrington for his medical.
Sabitzer will become the third and final signing of the January transfer window for United if the club complete a deal before the 11pm deadline, after the captures of Jack Butland and Wout Weghorst, also on loan.
United have moved for Sabitzer after it was confirmed that Christian Eriksen faces an extended spell on the sidelines. The Denmark midfielder will be out until late April after picking up an ankle injury in the FA Cup win over Reading on Saturday.
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Here, the Manchester Evening News rounds up the latest on Sabitzer's move to United.
Sabitzer medical at Carrington
Sabitzer jetted into the UK on Tuesday to complete his loan move to United ahead of tonight's deadline.
The MEN's United correspondent Samuel Luckhurst reported that United already have vehicles at Manchester Airport to ferry Sabitzer to their Carrington training complex and his arrival was confirmed by our chief reporter shortly after 8.30pm. It is there where the Austria star will go through his medical and the necessary paperwork.
United were expected to have a few hours to complete the deal before the window slams shuts at 11pm.
Premier League loan rules explained
United have already confirmed the captures of Butland and Weghorst on loan deals from English clubs this month, meaning Sabizter would take them to three loans.
Loan rules in the Premier League handbook state "Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time" - but the guidance only applies to domestic loan signings. This means Sabitzer's arrival from Germany does not breach guidelines.
Martin Dubravka was United's first loan signing of the season, with Newcastle United recalling the Slovakian shot-stopper earlier this month. If Sabitzer does arrive in the dying embers of deadline day, he will become the club's fourth registered loan player.
Subsequently United are working in tandem with another Premier League ruling which states: "The maximum number of loans registrable in the same season is four, and, under no circumstances, shall more than one be from the same club at any one time."
What Ten Hag said
United manager Erik ten Hag was asked about the possibility of the club completing a deadline day deal at his pre-Nottingham Forest press conference earlier today.
Ten Hag said: "As you said, on deadline day it's difficult, you can't make policy on such bad injuries. But we have players in the midfield department. Good players. We have players who can fill the gap."
Why are United targeting Sabitzer?
Having signed for RB Leipzig in 2014, Sabitzer developed a reputation as one of the Bundesliga's premier midfielders, finishing the 2019/2020 campaign with 16 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. He joined the Bavarian giants for a reported transfer fee of €16 million (£14m) in 2021.
The Austria international seems an ideal short-term replacement for United in Eriksen's absence.
Who else were interested?
Chelsea were also linked with Sabitzer on deadline day, but United are on the verge of securing his signature. Chelsea are also chasing Enzo Fernandez in a £105million move from Benfica.
What squad number will wear?
Of course, there are still a few more important matters to iron out before then, but Sabitzer does have options here, including his "dream" number 7 shirt which was vacated by Cristiano Ronaldo when he left Old Trafford for the second time. Other shirt numbers available to him are 13, 15, 24, 32 and 35.
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