Simon Stone
BBC Sport
Manchester United are in talks with Bayern Munich over a loan deal for Marcel Sabitzer.
The Austria midfielder is available during the current transfer window and following news of Christian Eriksen’s long-term injury and a short-term problem for Scott McTominay, United are exploring the prospect of a loan move.
Speaking at his press conference this lunchtime, manager Erik ten Hag said it was ‘difficult’ to do any deals on deadline day.
However, Ten Hag is well known at Bayern following his spell as second-team coach at the club and that relationship will help speed up the process.
Without Eriksen, who has been ruled out until the end of April with an ankle injury, and McTominay, Ten Hag has only two fit central midfielders for the forthcoming games against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace over the next week.
Seventeen-year-old Kobbie Mainoo is highly thought of at United but it is unlikely he would be risked at first-team level on a regular basis. Zidane Iqbal, 19, also plays in midfield but the Iraq international is yet to make a senior appearance this season.
Under the circumstances, a move for Sabitzer makes complete sense for United, who remain in all four competitions and hold a 3-0 lead from the first leg heading into the deciding game of their EFL Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford tomorrow.