Manchester United’s bid to turn Marcel Sabitzer’s loan move from Bayern Munich permanent received a massive boost on Wednesday.
According to Bild (via Bayern & Germany on Twitter), the Bavarians have ‘finally’ completed the long-awaited deal to sign versatile midfielder Konrad Laimer from RB Leipzig.
The 25-year-old Austria international was Bayern’s top target under Julian Nagelsmann last summer, but the deal never came through as Die Roten Buller refused to sell.
However, the record-time Bundesliga champions have made the ex-RB Salzburg men their first signing under new manager Thomas Tuchel, only one day after a Champions League fiasco at Manchester City.
Laimer’s move to the Allianz Arena could give a helping hand to Man Utd’s hopes of securing a permanent deal for Sabitzer, throwing his compatriot’s future in Munich into doubt.
Having failed to land regular first-team football at Bayern, the 29-year-old left Germany to link up with Erik ten Hag’s side in January, hoping to reignite his stuttering career.
And he has done just that.
Since moving to Old Trafford, Sabitzer has missed just two of Man Utd’s ten Premier League matches, taking advantage of Christian Eriksen’s absence to establish himself as a permanent first-team fixture.
Man United are still undecided about the Austrian, but they are unlikely to reject the prospect of signing him in a cut-price deal should the opportunity present itself.
Laimer’s impending switch to Bayern could speed things up, considering the Bavarians may have to offload fringe midfielders to make room for their new arrival.
Sabitzer, who has recently heaped praise on his Man United midfield colleagues, is not the only out-of-favour star that could make way for his fellow international teammate.
Ryan Gravenberch is another forgotten Bayern midfielder who may soon wave goodbye to the Allianz Arena after failing to live up to expectations upon his arrival from Ajax.
Old Trafford could be the Dutchman’s next destination if his former Lancers boss, Ten Hag, offers him an escape route from Germany to reunite him with Sabitzer.
It’s only a theory for now, but the Dutch manager has already shown his affection for his former associates, as witnessed by last summer’s deals for Antony and Lisandro Martinez.
