How Man Utd's 'emergency protocol' worked for Deadline Day transfer

Cameron Smith

• 3 Feb 2023 10:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United underwent an 'emergency protocol' on Deadline Day to seal a loan deal for Bayern Munich's Marcel Sabitzer.

The Red Devils were hit by unfortunate injury news late in the window, when Christian Eriksen suffered an ankle blow against Reading that will see him miss the majority of the 2022/23 season.

That caused an urgent rush to sign a replacement as the clock begun ticking on January 31, with Erik ten Hag desperate to add to his midfield compliment. Sabitzer's loan move wasn't even confirmed until the very early hours of February 1, but the deal was completed in time.

READ: Man Utd’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time

The Austrian international has moved to Old Trafford on a six-month loan deal until the end of the campaign,

According to the Daily Mail, there were many moving parts on Man Utd's side, with football director John Murtough, deputy football director Andy O'Boyle, director of data science Dominic Jordan and head of recruitment operations Steve Brown all involved in the transfer.

Man Utd had previously analysed Sabitzer during his time at RB Leipzig, and reportedly felt he would be ideally suited to Ten Hag's style of football.

READ: ‘Killer’ Sabitzer already wants permanent Man Utd transfer

Furthermore, the budget available to the club meant it would almost be impossible to sign a midfielder on a permanent deal in January, leaving a loan move the only option.

ESPN have reported that Ten Hag was given a list of 10 players on Monday morning, who were fit, available and worth investing in. Sabitzer then emerged as the club's number one target.

Sabitzer to Man Utd

The 28-year-old has found game time hard to come by since joining Bayern, despite the fact he followed Julian Nagelsmann from Leipzig to the Allianz Arena.

He clocked just over 600 Bundesliga minutes in the first-half of the season, and started just seven of their 18 league games.

Sabitzer is expected to provide competition for Fred and Scott McTominay, who will both be eyeing up the slot next to Casemiro in the Man Utd starting XI.